The Roman Empire was quickly unravelling at the start of the 5th century. In 410, the city was sacked for the first time in 800 years. Though it was only a minor sacking, the psychological effect upon the people throughout the Empire was enormous. People have often wondered how the Empire could have survived, or what the world would be like if it did. But today, let's imagine what it would have been like if one person had made very different decisions.
Disclaimer:
We all know history is incredibly complex, and the choices people make are made for a host of complex reasons. The daily choices you and I, not to mention our political leaders, make each day are often made because we are reacting to the circumstances we are facing in the world around us. We don’t have the luxury of looking into the future, and responding with decisions that could lead to the best outcome available. That would be no different for someone living in ancient Rome as he saw his world crashing around him. But for the sake of this video, let's assume our Roman friend was making the best choices he could have made, given the situation he found himself in.
Setting
In 406 Germanic tribes crossed the Rhine and invaded the Western Roman Empire. In Roman Britain, 6000 men were stationed, but hadn’t been paid in a number of years, and were prone to rebellion. Naturally, they began to revolt and proceeded to go through a number of leaders before settling on Flavius Claudius Constantinus. He was a common soldier, not an officer, so his standing wasn’t strong. But in February 407, his fellow legionnaires proclaimed him Emperor.
Rebellions were common in Roman Britain, and the standard practice of a rebellion was to establish a local power base, invade mainland Gaul, make a move on Italy, and hopefully if you are lucky, or incredibly skilled, take Rome. This format had been practised by none other than Constantine the 3rd’s namesake, Constantine the Great, with great and lasting success. But Constantine the 3rd was not that great of a leader. His reign lasted for a few years, fighting a number of battles in Gaul and Italy, before he was killed in battle in 411, a year after the sack of Rome.
But what if Constantine had learned from those mistakes of earlier rebellions and instead of gathering his forces and abandoning Britain to protect Gaul? He instead forms his power base in Londinium (London) and establishes his own Senate as a copy of the Roman one and prepares to defend Britain from the Goths from the south, and from the Picts in the north. This could be an unpopular move among his troops, as Britain isn’t seen as an independent island nation for another 600 years, and is still very much regarded as a part of the Roman empire. Plus, the people in Roman Britain view themselves as Roman and wouldn’t view themselves differently than their fellow Romans living in Gaul, Spain, or Italy. Many of his troops had come from all over the empire and would have been stationed in Britain under orders from higher up, and would have wanted to protect their homes from what was happening over the Channel. Constantine would have had to be very skilled, and give concessions to his troops if he was going to be able to establish himself in Britain. He could have made his officers the heads of the new Senate and given them land for their loyal service. If he wanted to avoid looking like he was separating from Rome, he could have declared himself “Caesar” which was a step down from the title “Augustus”, and declared his loyalty to Honorius, the Roman Emperor. This would have given the impression that he wasn’t breaking away from Rome, but was establishing a defence of Roman Britain. Honorius was in no position to retaliate, given that, in our timeline, he ceded the defence of Britain to itself in 410.
So Constantine chooses to; instead of invading Gaul, consolidates his power by establishing a Senate made up of his officers, gives them land, and titles, and his soldiers are given voting rights for a lower house. This satisfies them and they proceed to train and build up an auxiliary force that can help defend the country when raids come. The Picts and Irish have been raiding from the north and west and have taken over Wales, Northumbria, and northwestern England. Constantine begins building fortifications and taking back control of land given over to the Celts. He does this until he has reconquered the whole of Roman Britain up to Hadian’s Wall. Here, he is able to make a settled peace with the Picts for the rest of his reign. He spends time building up the cities, and towns, building ships and developing trade with Mainland Europe. Trade and immigration increases as Britain is seen as a peaceful remnant of the Roman Empire, drawing Romans from all over Gaul to come and escape the constant invasions across the Rhine.
To be continued.....
Disclaimer:
We all know history is incredibly complex, and the choices people make are made for a host of complex reasons. The daily choices you and I, not to mention our political leaders, make each day are often made because we are reacting to the circumstances we are facing in the world around us. We don’t have the luxury of looking into the future, and responding with decisions that could lead to the best outcome available. That would be no different for someone living in ancient Rome as he saw his world crashing around him. But for the sake of this video, let's assume our Roman friend was making the best choices he could have made, given the situation he found himself in.
Setting
In 406 Germanic tribes crossed the Rhine and invaded the Western Roman Empire. In Roman Britain, 6000 men were stationed, but hadn’t been paid in a number of years, and were prone to rebellion. Naturally, they began to revolt and proceeded to go through a number of leaders before settling on Flavius Claudius Constantinus. He was a common soldier, not an officer, so his standing wasn’t strong. But in February 407, his fellow legionnaires proclaimed him Emperor.
Rebellions were common in Roman Britain, and the standard practice of a rebellion was to establish a local power base, invade mainland Gaul, make a move on Italy, and hopefully if you are lucky, or incredibly skilled, take Rome. This format had been practised by none other than Constantine the 3rd’s namesake, Constantine the Great, with great and lasting success. But Constantine the 3rd was not that great of a leader. His reign lasted for a few years, fighting a number of battles in Gaul and Italy, before he was killed in battle in 411, a year after the sack of Rome.
But what if Constantine had learned from those mistakes of earlier rebellions and instead of gathering his forces and abandoning Britain to protect Gaul? He instead forms his power base in Londinium (London) and establishes his own Senate as a copy of the Roman one and prepares to defend Britain from the Goths from the south, and from the Picts in the north. This could be an unpopular move among his troops, as Britain isn’t seen as an independent island nation for another 600 years, and is still very much regarded as a part of the Roman empire. Plus, the people in Roman Britain view themselves as Roman and wouldn’t view themselves differently than their fellow Romans living in Gaul, Spain, or Italy. Many of his troops had come from all over the empire and would have been stationed in Britain under orders from higher up, and would have wanted to protect their homes from what was happening over the Channel. Constantine would have had to be very skilled, and give concessions to his troops if he was going to be able to establish himself in Britain. He could have made his officers the heads of the new Senate and given them land for their loyal service. If he wanted to avoid looking like he was separating from Rome, he could have declared himself “Caesar” which was a step down from the title “Augustus”, and declared his loyalty to Honorius, the Roman Emperor. This would have given the impression that he wasn’t breaking away from Rome, but was establishing a defence of Roman Britain. Honorius was in no position to retaliate, given that, in our timeline, he ceded the defence of Britain to itself in 410.
So Constantine chooses to; instead of invading Gaul, consolidates his power by establishing a Senate made up of his officers, gives them land, and titles, and his soldiers are given voting rights for a lower house. This satisfies them and they proceed to train and build up an auxiliary force that can help defend the country when raids come. The Picts and Irish have been raiding from the north and west and have taken over Wales, Northumbria, and northwestern England. Constantine begins building fortifications and taking back control of land given over to the Celts. He does this until he has reconquered the whole of Roman Britain up to Hadian’s Wall. Here, he is able to make a settled peace with the Picts for the rest of his reign. He spends time building up the cities, and towns, building ships and developing trade with Mainland Europe. Trade and immigration increases as Britain is seen as a peaceful remnant of the Roman Empire, drawing Romans from all over Gaul to come and escape the constant invasions across the Rhine.
To be continued.....
