Third Century Crisis - The Tetrarchy - Extra History - #4
Added 2020-08-28 17:30:01 +0000 UTCThis episode is about taxation and bureaucracy! No wait come back I swear it's actually really fascinating!
Comments
Was it just me but was it sad when Matt Said “miss you buddy”.
Emmanuel Flores
2020-08-28 18:04:27 +0000 UTCI hope you don't mind me putting all this up here? I'm not trying to put you out of a job or anything, and I think I did specify this is alternate history, and not meant to be taken seriously. 173 In the Roman Empire, while Touring the Eastern Provinces, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius gives a Speech on Philosophy in the City of Athens before a large Crowd, among whom is a Young Boy Aged no more than 8 Years. Afterwards, the Boy Follows Aurelius Home and starts Asking him some Naively Honest Questions about his Speech that Day. Aurelius Learns that the Boy is an Orphan and, Due to the Emperor’s Propensity for helping the Poor and the Young, Adopts the Precocious Young Gaius Corellus Sulla before Returning to the Danubian Frontier. 178 In the Roman Empire, Commodus, the Eldest Son of Caesar Marcus Aurelius, Mysteriously Shows up Dead at his Home in Laurentum, Latium. Here History will lose Sight of Events: both Sulla and Marcus Aurelius will put Commodus’s Death down to Plague, but Future Historians will Suspect that Future Wife, Polonia, at this Point just a lowly Servant in the Household but a Close Companion of , had Caught Wind of a Nefarious Plot by Commodus to Remove his only Competitor for the Throne and had used Poison to get rid of the Threat. If Sulla or Marcus Aurelius Know anything about the Plot, then they stay Silent. 180 17th March In the Roman Empire, Caesar Marcus Aurelius Passes away at the Age of 58 in the City of Sirmium, Province of Pannonia Inferior, from Smallpox. He will be Remembered by Future Historians as the Model Ruler, Unmatched by most Men in his Wisdom, Justice and self ~ Control. His Example will be used to Motivate and to Justify a Great many Civic Reforms as Future Rulers of Rome Seek Comparison with him and a Revival of his Wise Leadership. 6th July In the Roman Empire, the Adopted Son of Marcus Aurelius, Gaius Aurelius Sulla, is Crowned as Caesar of Rome after an Appropriate Period of Mourning. On the Day of Sulla’s Coronation, the Sky over Rome ~ and most of the World ~ turns an Eerie Red hue. The Natural Cause of this Phenomenon is the Eruption of Volcanic Vents underneath a Lake on the other side of the World ~ the largest Geological Event for Centuries ~ but its Interpretation as a Bloody Omen from the Gods is all that can be Known in this Time and Place. In the Roman Empire, the Roman Senators do not Expect much from Sulla ~ he is a 16 ~ Year ~ old Boy who hasn’t even Grown a Beard yet ~ Operating under the Supervision of Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus, a General who has Returned from the Frontier to Act as Regent for the Boy ~ Emperor, and some are still Asking Questions about the True Circumstances behind the Death of Princeps Commodus. Foul Play has been Suggested, and a few of Sulla’s Bolder Critics have even Dared to Suggest that Sulla had had Commodus Poisoned. The Declaration of a bad Omen is more of an Effect, rather than the Cause of, the Weak Support for Sulla in the Senate, but even these Negative Opinions of him will slowly soften in the Face of Sulla’s Piety in Observing the State Rituals, Constantia in Sacrificing his Own Convenience for the War, and his Personal Gravitas in Speaking before the Senate. Still, Clear Public Support from outside the Senate is needed before these Qualities can sway his more Ardent Senatorial Opponents. 198 In the Roman Empire, Caesar Sulla I Personally Leads Three Legions across the Border and into Caledonia without Local Knowledge. He Selects Villages not far from the North Side of Hadrian’s Wall to be Surrounded and their Entire Populations Slaughtered. 228 1st January In the Roman Empire, while Addressing the Senate of Rome, Caesar Sulla “the Great” Collapses mid Speech. Doctors are Summoned but, Alas, the Stroke he seems to have Suffered, Despite his Apparent good Health, is Incurable, beyond the Knowledge of even Rome’s best Doctors. He will be Remembered by both Future Historians and by his Contemporaries as Rome’s finest Caesar, who Guided Rome from a Kingdom of Silver to One of Gold, in the Words of the later Romano-Greek Historian and Statesman Cassius Dio. His Statue will stand, alongside those of other Roman Caesars along the Via Augusta in the Centre of the City of Rome, as well as the Colossus of Sulla, itself Modelled after the Colossus of Rhodes. His Brutal Conquest of Caledonia, as well as his almost One ~ sided Counter ~ Attack against Parthia, will Earn him a Reputation as One of Rome’s most Famous and Skilled Generals, a Place he will share with Illustrious Names like Julius Caesar, Scipio Africanus, Germanicus, Cruuxius Tiberius Carico, and, in later Centuries, Romulus Augustus and Constantine the Great. In the Roman Empire, there is none of the Political Pomp to Mark the Transition from Dual Emperors to a Sole Ruler apart from Naming Marcian as the new Pontifex Maximius and Holding a State Funeral for Sulla. The Non ~ Event that is Marcian’s Coronation, Combined with Sulla’s Earlier Reforms of both the Army and the Praetorian Guard, Sidesteps the need for any Donativum, which a new Emperor would usually Hand out to the Guard upon his Ascension to the Throne. Marcian takes Steps to Affirm his Ability to Govern without Sulla. In his First Act as Emperor, he Revalues the Silver Denarius, Increasing the Silver Purity from 83% to 88%, up to 96 a Pound, and Issues an Edict Sanctioning different Legal Treatment of the Honourable Orders and the Peasants, Exempting the Former from Harsher Punishments while Allowing the Latter to more Easily Appeal to the Emperor. 270 In the Roman Empire, the Adopted Successor of the Late Caesar Publius Septimius Marcianus, Lucius Domitius Aurelianus, himself a Popular Military Leader, is Proclaimed Caesar of Rome by the Imperial Senate. 275 25th September In the Roman Empire, Caesar Aurelian is Murdered by the Praetorian Guard near the City of Byzantium, Thrace. He will be Remembered by Future Historians as One of Rome’s shortest Reigning, but most Significant Caesars, Breathing new Life into a Dying Empire and Reunifying Rome under One Ruler Following the Crisis of The Third Century, Saving Rome from what had seemed almost Certain Collapse. Aurelian will also be Remembered as a Religious Reformer, Reinforcing the Cult of Sol Invictus as the Main Divinity of the Roman Pantheon at a Time when many Romans were losing their Faith in the Traditional Greco-Roman Gods. Many will Speculate that, without Aurelian, the Empire might never have Survived the Invasions and Fragmentations which Occurred during the Decade during which he Reigned. 20th November In the Roman Empire, the Army, Remorseful at the Effects of the Previous Century’s Military License, which has Resulted in the Murder of a Popular Emperor, Relinquishes its Right of choosing his Successor to the Senate. Initially, the Senate is Hesitant to Accept the Responsibility but, as the Delay Drags on from Aurelian’s Death, the Senate Resolves to Settle the Matter and Offers the Throne to the Adopted Son of the Late Caesar, Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus, a 30 ~ Year ~ old Cavalry Commander from the Saxon Wars. Before his Election, Diocletian had been Living in Nicomedia, Bythinia et Pontus, and only Reluctantly Returns on the Invitation of the Assembly of the Senate in Rome, where he is Invested with Imperial Regalia. Diocletian Immediately asks the Senators to Deify Aurelian before Arresting and Executing Aurelian’s Murderers. 285 21st July In the Roman Empire, the Murder of Aurelian had Demonstrated how Dangerous Sole Rule is to the Stability of the Empire. War is Brewing in the Border Provinces, from Britannia through to Cappadocia, and it is too much for One Man to Control. In Mediolanum, Caesar Diocletian Raises his Fellow Officer, Maximian, to the Rank of Caesar, making him Co ~ Emperor. The Concept of Dual Rulership is nothing new to the Roman Empire. Long ago, Augustus had Shared his Power with his Colleagues, and the more Formal Office of Co ~ Emperor has Existed since the Time of Marcus Aurelius onwards. 284 In the Roman Empire, in Common with many Pre ~ Industrial Civilizations, Communication over a long Distance is a Problem. Since the Time of Augustus, the and Government of Rome have used a Nationwide Postal Service to Communicate Military Reports, Tax Revenue, Census Info, Foreign News and other Public Affairs to the Appropriate Officials. A Roman Citizen who Wishes to send a Letter will need to be Lucky to find someone Travelling to the Intended Destination and is Willing to Deliver the Letter. No other Form of long ~ Distance Communication is Available for Private Citizens. In the Roman Empire, during the Reign of Caesar Diocletian, the Cursus is Opened to the Citizens of the Empire. By Opening the Cursus, Diocletian has Revealed a Potential Source of Profit and Commercial Benefit to Rome. The new National Postal Service uses Two Systems of Transport: the First, the Swift Service, Employs Messengers on Horseback, Carrying Reports for the Emperor in a Distinct Baton, Administrative Messages in a Purse Slung over the Shoulder, and Private Letters in Saddlebags. The Cheap Service uses Mule ~ Driven Carts carrying Letters and Packages along the Mail Routes. A Regular Journey along the Swift Service is Broken into Stages Involving Two Independent Transfers: 1] the Switching of the Horse and 2] the Switching of the Courier. An Urgent Report from the Military will Require the Original Courier to continue the Journey to Rome, even after Passing the Baton to another Courier. This way, the Report itself will Arrive in Rome as fast as Possible and the Emperor will still Receive an Oral Account from someone with Firsthand Knowledge. 285 21st July In the Roman Empire, the Murder of Aurelian had Demonstrated how Dangerous Sole Rule is to the Stability of the Empire. War is Brewing in the Border Provinces, from Britannia through to Cappadocia, and it is too much for One Man to Control. In Mediolanum, Caesar Diocletian Raises his Fellow Officer, Maximian, to the Rank of Caesar, making him Co ~ Emperor. The Concept of Dual Rulership is nothing new to the Roman Empire. Long ago, Augustus had Shared his Power with his Colleagues, and the more Formal Office of Co ~ Emperor has Existed since the Time of Marcus Aurelius onwards. 303 24th February In the Roman Empire, Rome had long ago taken Note of the Execution of a Jewish Philosopher Called “Yeshua” in the Egyptian Province of Judaea, who is also Known as “Christos” by his Followers, and of a Minor Cult that had Grown up around him ~ and Governors in Provinces where it takes Root are sometimes Alarmed by the Rate at which it Spreads. The of Mesopotamia becomes the First De Facto Christian Province, and with the Annexation of Armenia, Rome has another Province with a Christian Majority on her Hands and no Motivation or Awareness to Handle this Shift in Demographics. Christianity Endorses Ideas which Resonate with the Roman Lower Classes ~ the Resurrection of the Dead and, unlike the Traditional Greco-Roman Religion, Reward for the Suffering of Life in Heaven. These Ideals help Spread Support for the Cult with an almost Viral Effectiveness. However, Christianity has another Advantage besides the Desirability of its Ideals to the Rabble: Patricians are Drawn to Christianity by its Inherent Pacifism, an Attitude that Wins it Strong Praise at Social Gatherings for the Upper Classes and Stories of Martyrs who Allowed their Prosecutors to Execute them rather than Defend themselves for their Faith are Regularly told at Dinner Parties, Garnering both Sympathy and Admiration from those Discussing the Events. In the Roman Empire, Diocletian is no Fan of Christianity ~ he is Conservative in Matters of Religion, a Man Faithful to the Greco-Roman Pantheon, and Understanding of Demands for Religious Purification. When Rumours begin reaching Diocletian’s Ears that One of his Military Commanders in the Eastern Regions, Georgios of Lydia, has been Favourably Allocating Grain Shipments to Christians over Jews and has been Spending Provincial Funds on Christian Bishops, the Emperor Feels Conflicted; not only is Georgios One of his best Commanders, he is a Personal Friend whom Diocletian had Persuaded to Join the Army in the First Place and these are Serious Accusations since Diocletian likes Jews and Strongly dislikes the Followers of Christ. In Response, Galerius Persuades Diocletian to Issue Letters Demanding that the Entire Army to make Sacrifices to the Greco-Roman Gods or Face Dismissal. There is very little Resistance to this new Law since most Legionaries tend to come from Sections of Society which are less Inclined Towards Christianity. Any Legionary Officers who are Christians Obey these Orders since they Value their Loyalty to Rome over a few of their Beliefs. In the Roman Empire, Georgios is not One of those who Complies; he uses his Rank and his Prestige to Arrange a Meeting with the Emperor in Nicomedia, Denouncing the new Laws to his Face and Proudly Proclaiming his Membership of the Christian Cult. Diocletian Spares no Expense in bringing in the most Eloquent Roman Priests to Argue the Case for the Empire’s Illustrious State Religion, but George will not Concede his Position. Finally, Diocletian has had enough and Decides to make an Example of George by Ordering that he be Beheaded on the Grounds of Blasphemy. 23rd April In the Roman Empire, George goes to his Death with Dignity. After Donating his Personal Fortune to the Poor, George Meets with his Executioner outside the Esquiline Gate. A Crowd Consisting of Tens of Thousands of Roman Christians, some even from the Senate, has Assembled to Witness his Martyrdom.
Martin Verran
2020-08-28 17:40:08 +0000 UTCI nearly forgot to mention I was looking over video game soundtrack on YouTube and found the perfect one for this series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GityoGjUj0g
Martin Verran
2020-08-28 17:35:05 +0000 UTC
