Chapter VII: Flavia

„The future is secured, for them, for us, for everyone. “ – Nicomachus Flavianus

Galla: daughter of Nicomachus Flavianus and Galla, soon to marry Honorius, whose sister is named Galla and whose stepmother is also called Galla. Not only because of this potential danger of confusion, but also because of her hair, which, lighter than her younger brother’s, is still not blonde but a shade of brown, she is called Flavia. Sometimes she is also referred to as Galla Minor, Flaviana or Flavianilla.

The emperor marries, a girl of 14 years, a decade younger than him. Honorius was married before, to a granddaughter of his general Saturninus, but the girl died and so did later the general. This time it seems more promising, the bride seems healthy, she is pretty and most important she is from a mighty family - actually two families. Her father is a Nicomachi, her mother a Symmachi. Both are mighty and old clans of Rome. Honorius hopes to gain some popularity among the Roman nobility with this move and also an heir for his throne. Even if he tries to win over the nobility and the senate, so is he too afraid to celebrate the wedding in the city of Rome. He prefers to stay in Arelate, close to his protector Alaric.

Two weeks before the wedding the Goth King appears in the city. Just a few days earlier he was still fighting in northern Gallia but now he is back with some news - good or bad ones; hard to tell. The Alani and Silingi, which crossed the Rhine in 399 with the other tribes, were plundering Gallia for nearly 10 years now. They mostly concentrated on the northwest. Neither did they ally like the other tribes with Mallius, nor did they found an own realm to rule. They went restless to the west, the south, than to the north-east and following the Ligara upwards as Alaric’s troops entered Gallia. They were in Burdigala, Turonum and Lutetia but on none of these places did they establish a kingdom. As they followed the Ligara they even split in several smaller groups. All of them continued their way to the north-west, the area dominated by Sequana and Ligara. Every single group was a little army for itself making it impossible for Alaric to win over them, not because they were too strong but they were too many. He didn’t meet a single big army that he could challenge in a battle. But in 408 the young Silingi Theuderic convinced the leaders of the most groups that they need to work together to secure their freedom and defeat Alaric. Theuderic, now King of Vandals and Alans, led his troops in the beginning of 409 in a Battle against Alaric. The Goth King won but made a pact with the losers.

In Arelate he arrived with this news and proved how powerless Honorius really is. He settled the Vandals and Alans between Ligara and Sequana, without even asking for permission. Alaric justified his decision with the fact that this land was reserved for the Sicilian Vandals, but they refused to settle there, so the land fell to their Silingian cousins, which were already in this area.

The day of the wedding was a cold one, not only because of the weather, but also because of the people who came to witness the event. No one of the senators, which were present in the city liked to see the barbarians, especially because they still remember how Gainas plundered the city in the emperor’s name. The Germanics that arrived also preferred to stay alone. Mistrust poisoned the air in the city. The emperor himself didn’t show any emotion on this day. The bride on the other hand seemed more active, she didn’t love the man she married and she was not excited about being with him, but she knew what power she could gain. Her ancestors were philosophers, scholars and bureaucrats, but she was different. As a boy she would have been a general or emperor, but as a girl she was only a link between Honorius and the senatorial elite. Maybe in future she could be able to prove herself as a leader. As she stood in front of the altar, it was clear to her who was the mightiest man in the room; not her husband, not her father, none of the senators, but the barbarian in the back of the church, who was a bit tipsy and the only one, smiling all the time, King Alaric. She hated him. He was a barbarian and also looked like one, he even stunk like one. His pride seemed like arrogance to the young empress and his power was torture for her. Besides Alaric and his guard were no other Germanics in the church. The Burgundian King and his fellows stayed outside the city and only appeared to compliment the emperor, whereas the Frankish King and Vandal King Godigisel didn’t even appear in Arelate; the latter because he had to fear for his life since he plundered Rome, the first because he had to fight enemies in his own territory. The King of the Pannonian Goths, Himilvin, a man with religious spirit, stayed away from the Trinitarian church, mostly because he thought bad about the Roman way of Christianity, he didn’t like the Romans so much in general, but knew that his people could for now only survive in an alliance with them. On the others side did he like Alaric pretty much and both drunk together the night before – that’s the reason the King appeared a bit tipsy in the church.

The kings would leave the city again a few days later, so did the senators, but Flavia stayed and would become in the following years the strong woman behind Honorius. 

Map 

The Western and parts of the Eastern Roman Empire in 409 AD.

Red=Western Empire; Light Red=Goth; Striped=other foederati; Brown=Vandals

Purple=Eastern Empire
Magenta=Britannian Empire
Yellow=Gepids

Rome 407 AD (big map)

enjoy :)

Chapter VI: Scipio ante Portas

„Hannibal is what Carthago needs in these days; a man who doesn’t fear the enemy, who knows Rome is mortal and who has the courage to try the impossible. Oh my Hannibal where are you?.“ – Gildo

Ortygia is the cradle of Siracusae. Gainas would like to rename the small island off the coast of Sicilia, give her a title that suits her more, now that the Vandals rule here. The people should know from the name alone that not Romans or Greeks are in control of island and city but Vandals. Maybe: Gainasia, Gainopolis; no, he is not King, that’s not appropriated. Godigisela, or –um, or maybe Godigiselopolis; no, to long and this bastard is not worth having a city named in his honour. Vandalia? 

For now Gainas has to think about other thinks, than names, more important things. Alaric and Honorius ordered ships. A whole fleet they want, where is he supposed to get so many ships from, maybe from the harbour right next to him?  Yes, there are ships, many of them and they actually belong to the Empire but why should he give them back? He conquered the island with them, in Honorius’ name, but he never gave the island back. How can he now trust the emperor, Gainas stole from him and defraud him of his island, why shouldn’t he seeks revenge, why shouldn’t he betray him? No ship will leave this island towards Africa to defeat the Tyrant of Carthago, at least not without loyal Vandals. If the Usurper should fall than he should fall through German hands.

What has Honorius without Gainas? Nothing! An empire, he doesn’t control but Alaric, provinces in rebellion and nearly no ships to beat them down. With some bad luck Africa could even fall to Arcadius, if the East feels like grabbing for it. What is Gainas without Honorius; a dubious ally, maybe a pirate, a potential target for Constantinople or an independent ruler by everything but name? And with Honorius? Maybe he will be the ruler of Africa or maybe nothing but a piece in the great game for Rome. For now it seems the emperor needs Gainas more than the other way around, that means he will get his ships, but not without Vandals. Carthago will fall.

The gates of Carthago, which are now broken, still show how Gildo tried to protect his city - with elephants. Not real ones, but with blood painted, big eared and long nosed animals, guard the gates. Their red bodies are flat and made out of the blood of prisoners, which were taken out of their cells, lost their heads – which were used as terrifying warnings for the Vandals – and were robbed of their blood. But his elephant army couldn’t save Gildo, neither could his human one. The Tyrant of Africa is dead and his palace is conquered. Vandalia would also sound good for this city. But again Gainas has better things to do than thinking of names. Today he will show mercy with four of his prisoners, because the emperor asked for it and he feels like granting him this wish – actually it’s a command but what does he care for Honorius’ commands.

Nearly he would have killed him, killed this ungrateful bastard. What does he think he is, his life depended on him but he was stupid enough to open his mouth and accuse him of murder, what right does he believes he has? Murderer! He did not even touch his father, let alone killing him. Gainas even liked him more or less. But in the end it was his, Stilicho’s, decision to stay with Honorius. They could have marched together at Mediolanum or Constantinople. Not he killed Stilicho, but his own stupidity. How dare Eucherius to call him a murderer ever again. At Narona a potential ally died in Gainas’ eyes, but not an enemy. Eucherius, his mother and his sisters can go away from this place, far away, to a place which was chosen by the court in Arelate. Their new home would be a small but nice mansion near Burdigala, close to the Goths and the Atlantic, far away from the centre of the empire and even farer away from Gainas, who would kill this brat if he would come close to him ever again.

Gildo was dead, Mallius Theodorus not yet and that made him the reason for Gainas to send his troops to the west, to Mauretania, to find the Usurper and to expand his influence. Many inhabitants of Mauretania are Arian Christians, which is a fact that could help Gainas to secure control over his territory; he is an Arian himself, while the emperors are Trinitarians. Vandals and Moors could be the base of Gainas’ rule, but for now the later ones are not yet under his control. Mallius has to be defeated once and for all and Gainas has to do it if he wants control over all of Africa.

Map 

The Western and parts of the Eastern Roman Empire in 407 AD.

Red=Western Empire; Light Red=Goth; Striped=other foederati; Brown=Vandals

Purple=Eastern Empire
Green=Mallius Theodorus' Empire
Magenta=Britannian Empire
Yellow=Gepids

Chapter V: Pannonia

„Over me are only the gods.“ – Thorigais

Uldin, King of the Huns - not all of them, but the most – is facing his nightmare. The Empire he built up in the last years could collapse if he loses this battle. The Hun King looks terrifying; his face is full of scares, his head bald and deformed. The Romans fear him, they know why so many tribes cross their borders and they know the Huns are the reason for all this, but not Roman troops will challenge Uldin, not a single army dared to cross the Danubius, today he will fight his own fellows.

Thorigais, Leader of the Eastern Goths – and some other tribes – is young, ambitious and hates the Huns. He was born as his people were already enslaved by them, he never saw the Kingdom of Ermanaric but he knows that the Goth won’t stay forever under the Hunnic rule. The young man enjoyed the Hun King’s trust, always did Thorigais anything to please Uldin, he fought his battles, even striked down the Gothic rebellion of Radagais. As the King led an army into the devastated Pannonia in 401 AD, which was left by Roman armies and Vandalian settlers, Radagais followed him dutiful, but as Uldin left to smash a rebellion in the south east, he gave the command over the Pannonian troops to his cousin. Radagais used the weakness of his new lord to shake of the Hunnic yoke. Before Uldin even could arrive in Dacia and beat down the revolt, his cousin’s head already reached him.

While the Hun King destroyed all resistance against him in Dacia, Thorigais used the time to build up his own army. He gathered the Germanic tribes around him that lived under the Hunnic rule and formed a confederation against Uldin. Even the Siligian Vasals, who were on their way to the south to enter the Imperium, joined Thorigais.

It was a cold and windy day on which Uldin attacked. The cloud of arrows that was supposed to smash Thorigais’ troops was stopped by the clouds of the sky, which turned the once dry ground into a field of mud. Lightings, like a divine omen, stroke into the trees behind the Hunnic troops. This day would be known as the Battle of the Storms. The Hunnic rule was broken on this day, only for now and only in Pannonia, but Uldin was dead and his troops defeated, Thorigais ruler of Pannonia. Soon a letter from Honorius would arrive at his residence in Savaria and an answer would follow immediately:

“Oh Augustus, you are demanding tribute, you demand that I obey your rule!? [..] You don’t rule over this land, not even over your own. Do you believe I know nothing about your Empire? […] Who shall help you, helpless little Augustus? The Goths of Gallia? They don’t save you, they rule over you! The Vandals of Italia? They don’t save you, they hate you! […] You are not my lord, there is no one ruling me; over me are only the gods!” 

Thorigais was right about what he said. Only a few months later the Vandals, under Gainas command, conquered the rebellious city of Rome. Over the next year Gainas and Godigisel stayed near Rome in Portus before they left the mainland to conquer Sicilia. In Gallia Alaric was finally able to force a peace with the Franks in the summer of 405. The land in which the Goths and Vandals should settle was secured, but Gainas refused to leave Sicilia again. Honorius was forced to grant the Vandals the islands.

Thorigais was right about the instability of Rome, but he overestimated his power. After the Huns were beaten, the confederated tribes split. The Gepids overthrew Thorigais, his Empire fell, his Goths marched to the south and joint Honorius as foederati. The Gepids stayed in Pannonia, whereas a third group of mixed heritage, on the search for land and wealth, moves to the east.

 

Map 

The Western and parts of the Eastern Roman Empire in 405 AD.

Red=Western Empire; Light Red=Goth; Striped=other foederati; Outline=Vandalian Sicily

Purple=Eastern Empire
Green=Mallius Theodorus' Empire
Magenta=Britannian Empire
Yellow=Gepids
 

Chapter IV: Alaric and Honorius

„The Empire’s enemies are mine; I will hunt, find and destroy them.“ – Alaric

The treaty of Bononia, Christmas 401 AD, changed everything in the war for Rome: One month earlier Alaric’s troops defeated Saturninus’ army in the Battle of Verona and captured the Magister Militum. Honorius, now for sure in an awful situation, had several options: allying with Mallius in Gallia, who would claim at least a part of the Empire for himself, maybe even everything; allying with Gildo, who is on the other hand totally unpredictable and no one knows what he is really fighting for - the magister militum position, emperorship, independence, revenge, nobody can tell - ; or allying with Alaric, who showed to be a talented but very ambitious general and would demand land for his soldiers.

In the end Honorius decide to ally with Alaric and to agree on his demands: the King would become Magister Militum, the Goths would be settled between Ligara and Garunna (mostly the provinces Aquitania I and II), the Hasdingi would settle north of them around Lutetia and Senones. In exchange for this Alaric would march against Mallius and Gildo.

Godigisel and Gainas began in the name of Honorius’ their campaign against Gildo’s troops in Italia. Even if they now fought for the Empire, so were they nevertheless plundering all the way to the south and camped symbolically near the city of Rome to provoke the Romans and to remind them, who is now in power. At Easter 402 AD, while waiting for the African troops to challenge the Hasdingi in an open battle, Gainas and some of his soldiers entered the Rome to celebrate the Holy (Arian) Mass in Rome. That was the last straw to convince the population and the senate, that these barbarians were not only scornful and disrespectful but a threat for the Empire, its culture and tradition. After Gainas left the city again and the Hasdingi moved further to the south east in the hope to be able to challenge the Africans there, the Senate decided to side with Honorius’ enemies.

In the meantime, Alaric marched into Gallia and Mallius flew to the south into Hispania. The Goth king took Vienna without battle, secured the Pyrenees passes and decided to move to the north and destroy the Germanic military backbone of Mallius, namely Sigiric’s troops, before turning to the south to finally end the usurpation.

Honorius’ decision to trust in Alaric as an ally affected all participants of the war. Arcadius lost control over his young brother and East and West can now not anymore trust on each other’s help in the future. Hasding King Godigisel blames Gainas for the loss of Rome to Gildo and cracks show between both; Gainas builds the young Geiserich up to be next king, while Godigisel prefers his older son Gunderic. Gainas made himself unpopular with the Hasding leader but the soldiers seem to favour him more than their own king; Godigisel sinks into powerlessness, whereas Gainas becomes the real ruler. In Hispania Mallius meets with one of Gildo’s legates; who informs him that Africa is now on his side. Britannia breaks away from the Empire as Alaric demands - in a very rude manner -that their troops should fight in Gallia.  The island is now ruled by Emperor/Usurper Constantinus, who prefers to stay their instead of fighting on the tumultuous mainland. Lacking the Britannian troops Alaric is unable to decide the war in Gallia in his favour but has to fight a long and exhausting campaign against Sigiric. The remaining Italian forces couldn’t stop parts of the Alemannians to break through the Alpine passes and plunder several cities. Honorius relocated the court to the freshly conquered but far saver Arelate. Here on the bank of the Rhodanus, the Emperor can do nothing but wait for Alaric to win or to fall and he would follow him.

Map 

The Western and parts of the Eastern Roman Empire in 403 AD.

Red=Western Empire; Light Red Outline=Planned Gothland

Purple=Eastern Empire
Green=Mallius Theodorus' Empire; Light Green-Striped=Sigiric's army
Magenta=Britannian Empire

Chapter III: Gallia

„Gallia: land of the barbarians and tyrants. “ – Symmachus I.

Mallius Theodorus, who feels still odd when called Augustus and who did not really wanted this office, is only in that position because he is not made for being Emperor, he is no General, no military talent; he is a philosopher, a well-known writer, not a ruler.

How did it come that he is now Augustus? As the Germans crossed the Rhine in the year 399 AD Mallius Theodorus was in Treverorum, administrating the land between Gibraltar, Rhine and Atlantic, in the name of Emperor Honorius. The Magister Militum, unable to defend the north of Gallia, withdrew to the south but Mallius stayed in Treverorum. Four weeks later Frankish and Burgundian troops conquered the city and captured him. He stayed a prisoner, for several months, until the leaders of the Germans, especially Sigiric a Frankish king, became impatient with the Emperor in Italia, who was neither willing to grant them land nor positions in the Imperium. Sigiric gave Mallius his freedom back and made him with the other tribes’ support Emperor – or Usurper – in exchange for the foederati status and military positions.

The Franks in the north of Gallia expanded their territory to the east and south and Sigiric, the mightiest of their kings and now Comes of the Imperium, claims the military command over all the northern provinces and is able to full fill this ambition at least between the channel and the Mosella. The Alemanians settle between Danubius and the Alps, securing the northern Alpine passes for Mallius. A part of the Burgundians controls the area between both, whereas another part continues to plunder Gallia; together with Alans and the Silingi-Vandals.

After granting and defining the tribes’ territory, Mallius moves with all avaible troops to the south, away from Treverorum, where now Sigiric likes to resides, and the foederati controlled north towards the south, the city of Vienna, which is closer to the Empire’s heartland, Italia. Militarily incompetent Mallius and his more competent generals and backers hope, that the various factions in the war over the Imperium will weaken each other so much, that they can take the rest of the Empire without problems. In the moment the Gallian tactic seems to work, because Honorius’ army is battling Alaric, who crossed the Alps, on the Adriatic coast and Gildo’s troops in the south, which were lucky enough to take Sicilly nearly without casualties and are now advancing into Italia and Hispania. A negative aspect for Mallius is that he has a chronic troop shortage and would be barely able to hold the southern alpine passes; worst of all Britannia is holding to Honorius or better to everyone who won’t take the island’s troops right now. Southern Gallia may be the safest place to be in the Western Empire, for men because they don’t have to fight, just to wait, and for women and children because the Barbarians are plundering and burning down the north; but that can all change in a matter of weeks, maybe only days. It could be the silence before the storm for Gallia.

Map 

The Western and parts of the Eastern Roman Empire in 401 AD.

Red=Western Empire

Purple=Eastern Empire
Blue=Alaric's troops
Gold=Area controlled by Gildo
Green=Mallius Theodorus' Empire; Light Green-Striped=Foederated Peoples and influence

Chapter II: Gainas and Eucherius

„Oh, dear cousin, your father is dead, so is mine, but you don’t see me crying over that. We all have to depart this life one day or another. Crying doesn’t bring him back, better wipe of your tears; you will need your eyes in these days more than ever before. “ - Honorius

Mediolanum is the crown jewel of the West, seat of the Emperor, magnificent centre of the Roman world. At least centre of Honorius’ part, a shrinking part; the Emperor is young and weak and his enemies know that. Dalmatia, the bloody, rural and devastated opposite of the capital, is lost for the West. Troops conquered it in the name of Arcadius and the Eastern Empire and now a barbarian is sitting on the throne of Diocletian, Alaric king of the Goths, foederati of the East. While Arcadius is sending one of his advisors to rule for his younger brother.

Stilicho’s blood wasn’t even dry yet but the Illyricum already partitioned. Alaric, now ruler of Dalmatia and the western part of Dacia, granted Gainas the rule over the land between Dravus and Savus – minus the area around Sirmium – and the province of Moesia. Siscia was chosen as Gainas residence. The cities location is symbol of his ambitions, on the bank of the Savus, far away from the save lands of Moesia, on the border to Honorius’ Pannonia, ready to be the centre of a new independent kingdom. North of Gainas realm the Hasdings live, Vandals, unable to resist the pressure of the Huns, which move slow but steady in their direction. They could be the backbone of his dreams, of his Empire.

The death of Stilicho may be the dream of some people, of his enemies, of Gainas, of the Senators but it was the start of a nightmare for Eucherius, his son. His father’s supporters saw the young boy as a Roman, his father’s enemies as a Barbarian. He and his mother, Serena, a cousin of Honorius, are seen as enemies of the Empire, his death father seen as a betrayer, who wasn’t able or willing to destroy the Goths. 2 1/2 months after Stilicho’s death the child, his mother and his sisters flew from Mediolanum, shortly before Arcadius’ advisor Saturninus arrived to rule the West as the new regent for the young Emperor Honorius. Saturninus, supported by the anti-Gothic groups in the Empire, begins to concentrate troops in northern Italia expecting King Alaric or his Dux Gainas to invade Pannonia or the plain of the Padus in the near future. Planning to defeat the Goths in one final battle and to destroy the potential thread of the Empire, he neglects the limes and loses the focus on the border provinces, which are threatened by the Germanic tribes.

In Carthago Gildo, a general of Moorish origin, rules, controlling Roman Africa and not being known for being very loyal but very selfish and opportunistic. As Eucherius arrives at his palace in Carthago, he grants him exile and swears revenge for the disrespectful treatment of his family. Africa, the bread basket of the Empire, breaks away, so does the Rhine border a few weeks later, while Pannnonia sinks into anarchy. The remnants of Stilicho’s army are plundering northern Dalmatia and southern Pannonia since the death of their general, led by a Roman named Flavius Maximinianus. After a skirmish between them and the Hasdings, Hasding-King Godigisel agrees to ally with Gainas against Maximinianus’ troops. Saturninus, misinterpreting the Gothic troop movement, leads the half of his army to Pannonia, while the rest prepares to sail to Africa. Noticing the Roman troop movement Alaric decides to finally break with Arcadius, because Saturninus’ troops are marching against the Goth and that not only for Honorius’ interests but also for Arcadius’. The end of the Goth-King would be favourable for both brothers. If Alaric wins this war it could mean the end of the Theodosian Dynasty, atleast in the West.

Map 

The Western and parts of the Eastern Roman Empire in 399 AD.

Red=Western Empire; Lighter Shade=Foederated Franks and their influence

Purple=Eastern Empire
Blue=Empire of Alaric; Lighter Shade=Gainas/Hasdingi
Gold=Area controlled by Gildo
also showing the Germanic tribes on that crossed the Rhine

Chapter I: The battle of Narona

AD 397:

„I trusted you, you betrayed me; today I trust you that you will die, today you won’t betray me.“  - Stilicho

The wind comes from the west, from the sea, it’s cold and salty. Flavius Stilicho is walking nervously trough the rows of soldiers, while speaking to his confidants. Mistrust is Stilicho’s loyal fellow and most trusted advisor in the last months; today more than ever before.

Last night he woke up covered in sweat, it was a nightmare; for him a prophecy. Stilicho believed to see his own destiny; he witnessed his own death. Honorius, Emperor of the west, would strangle him to death. The boy betrayed him; Stilicho secured the child’s throne, he smashed his enemies and were loyal his whole life, loyal to Honorius’, his father, the Empire and would have served even under Honorius’ sons, but this infant laid the hands around his general’s neck and slowly took his breath until Stilicho woke up, struggling for air.

The general trusted no one; he couldn’t trust the Senate because they hated him, the pagan Senators because he was Christian, the rest because his father was a Barbarian and because the old Roman aristocracy could not accept the nearly unlimited influence Stilicho had on the child-emperor. Rumours doubting his own loyalty to Rome spread in the Empire and under his Roman troops, even if they never mistrusted their general, so did they however notice how he spent hours alone in his tent, walking up and down, talking to himself, but no one could understand what he was saying, not even about the language they were sure – maybe Latin, maybe German. He even mistrusted his own life guard and distanced himself increasingly from his own troops.

And all this mistrust caused by a single man. Two years ago Gainas led a part of Stilicho’s troops to Constantinople to kill the general’s enemy Rufinus, the advisor of child-emperor Arcadius, brother of Honorius. But Rufinus was informed of Stilicho’s plans and challenged Gainas with his own loyal troops near the city. Nevertheless Gainas troops, mostly Goths, were victorious and Rufinus flew to the south west. Gainas stayed in Constantinople and got to feel the mistrust of parts of the Trinitarian aristocracy and the population of the city, towards the Arian-Germanic troops from the west. In the winter of 396 Gainas left the city following the order of Stilicho to attack the troops of the Goth king Alaric, which were plundering the Prefecture of Illyricum and granted Rufinus exile, in exchange of the promise of some high position for Alaric if he should get back in power.

But Gainas changed his mind during his stay in Constantinople. He didn’t care for Rufinus fate anymore nor for Stilicho’s orders, he turned against the Romans and his commander; instead of fighting Alaric, he and his soldiers joined his army. From now on Gainas would fight for his own wellbeing instead of Rome’s. Stilicho would never forget Gainas’ betrayal on him and the Empire.

Arcadius, feared by the Gothic army in his territory, makes Alaric concessions, giving him several provinces to govern and settle, so the Province of Dalmatia, which is contested between West and East.

One year later Stilicho would meet the Goths at Narona, to break the power of King Alaric, to conquer Dalmatia and to kill the betrayer Gainas; but in the end he would be the one to find death.

Map 

 The Western and parts of the Eastern Roman Empire in 397 AD after the Battle of Narona.

Red=Western Empire; Lighter Shade=Foederati

Purple=Eastern Empire; Lighter Shade=Land of the Goths; Lightest Shade=Land of Gainas

Rome II - Total War

Sega will publish a new Total War game :D
ROME II

I remember the good old times of Rome and Medieval 2, sadly Empire TW was so disapointing that i didn't buy Napoleon nor Shogun 2 ... I hope the developers took some some inspiration from Paradox' Crusader Kings 2, for the newest Total War.
I hope we will see many provinces/regions and a complex political and dynastical system.

hmmm, i am kind of not that sure if Creative Assembly can satisfy my hunger for a complex ancient grand strategy game ... maybe Paradox would make a better game (atleast the campaign mode), but i don't wanna judge about something that is not published yet ... I will hope the best for the game :)

Worlda 1907

I improved/changed many details on my Worlda map of Araldyana 1907 AD (i didn't finish Livosa/South America yet, so i will only publish the Old World here for now):

Old:

New:

Changes:

The changes are mostly in Asia and Africa, but the African changes are mostly limited to minor border corrections, while especially in north eastern Asia i cahnged quite much.
The former triangular Mongol* state is now not anymore completly depending on Scanden (the big light blue state). Mongols* and Manchu* are buffer states between Zoroastrian China, Scanden and Brytonic East Asia. The remants of "traditional" China hold out in the north west of the country.

Still not complety finished and satisfied.

working

I'm in the moment working on a rework of the ancient part of my Araldyana Timeline ... if you dont know the TL it's on alternatehistory.com (WARNING! the older the post the more outdated it is!)