Chapter XI: Edges of the World

„O God, why does the world end in my days?“ – Honorius

It is the year 416 AD and the Empire is falling. The Mare Nostrum, once nothing but a Roman lake but at the same time heart of the Empire, is now the territory of the barbarians. The west lost Africa and the East couldn’t reconquer it; Arcadius’ ships sunk against Geiseric’s fleet. It might be the Vandal King’s greatest victory, that he forced the Emperors to accept his African Realm. It weren’t the lost battles, which made the brothers so weak, that they accepted an independent kingdom, it was the hunger. The population of Rome depends on the grain from Africa and for years not a single ship from Cartagho reached Italia and brought food to the starving population. The end of the Vandalian War is the end of the Roman hunger years.

On the other edge of the known world, in the steppes of the Scythians, a king rose upon the local rulers. The Huns, north the Pontic Sea, are united under one banner again, 11 years after the fall of Udin, ruler of the Danubian tribes. Ultzindur is the mightiest man of all the rulers of the steppe. He united the most Hunnic tribes and led them already against the peoples of the northern Caucasus. Only the Huns which were once the core of Uldin’s empire are not yet part of Ultzindur’s domain. They settle mostly on the northern bank of the Danube and are busy with internal fights. Also some Goths are under them and other Germanics and furthermore some Romans live still in these lands.

417 AD is the year of Ultzindur: first the Delta of the Danube, then the plains of southern Dacia fall to his hordes. Many Huns cross in this year the Danube, not to conquer but to flee their invading brothers. They become part of the Eastern army and most of them will lose their life in the war for Rome.

The king of the Pannonian Goths, Himilvin, heard about the rise of a new Hunnic ruler, shortly after Ultzindur’s Dacian invasion. For the King it was certainly a bad sign. He had plans, big plans: the conversation of the Transdanubian tribes. Under all rulers, he was the one with the biggest religious spirit but he had nevertheless a sense for political necessity. Himilvin grew up under Hunnic rule and fears nothing more but their return. The Baiuvari could wait and stay pagans for now. The king needed a plan if the Huns should advance until Pannonia. His people could move to the north over the Danube but on the other hand will this land probably also fall to Ultzindur. The south would be another option. Himilvin feared the Romans much less than the Huns, but taking Italia would still be an ambitious project.

If Odo should invade Italia, Himilvin will attack from the north-east. In the moment the Roman armies under Asterius still hold on the Alpine passes but it is only a matter of time until the Goths sweep into the empire’s heartland. Honorius rule is limited on Italia. Gallia is lost to Odo and also to Eucherius. The later was able to gain land in the north against the Silingi, mostly because their troops are busy in the south. Eucherius’ formal master is emperor Constantinus and his son of the same name. The younger Constantinus left the command over the continental army completely to Eucherius, who was also promoted Magister Militum and Patricius of the empire. The young prince, lacking military talent, prefers to stay on the island. His father reformed the instable Britannian provinces already a few years ago: the field army, the comitatenses, was reduzed in terms of size whereas the border troops, the limitatei, were enlarged. The Britannian army adapted a defensive strategy. Most soldiers have family, didn’t see the continent for over a decade and are not willing to leave their home for the bloody barbarian playground of Gallia.

Eucherius acts nearly independent from the Emperor in Britannia. His army’s backbone consist of Aremoricans, Franks and even some Saxons; whereas Britannians make up only a tiny part of his troop.

 

At all edges of the Roman world, the imperial rule is shrinking and Honorius and Asterius control nothing anymore but Italia.

Map 

The Western and parts of the Eastern Roman Empire in 417 AD.

Red=Western Empire; Striped/Outline=foederati

Purple=Eastern Empire; Striped=foederatiMagenta=Britannian Empire; Light Magenta=Aremorica; Stripped=foederati
Brown=Vandals

Green=Hispanian Empire
Blue=Gothic Empire
Yellow=Gepids
Light Brown=Huns