1057(304)-1105(352) (Ætas ab Brian)

From Alternative History

!Past
1046(293)-1057(304)

Constantine (Aeab):
1057(304)-1105(352)

Future!
1105(352)-1159(406)

The council appointed Gaivs Constantinvs, a Moesian at 32. He tolerated the Republic and even consulted it when he felt the need but did not add any senatorials. He kept the power balance between him and the Senate. In 1061-2(308-9) he stomped a Frankish rebellion. Constantine felt that the Empire was stagnating and needed more land, loot, and liveliness. 2 years later he organized a campaign to retake all of Germania. This was very successful, restoring Rome’s previous frontier but again reaching maximum limits in the north. This did not deter him. 3 years later, after fortifying the frontier he moved all the way to Southern Aegyptvs and began driving into Nubian lands, using whole populations of enslaved cities to keep up the invading legions' numbers. In order to keep these new slave legions organized and obedient, Constantine formed the Kushite Legions, all officers were Italian, all 5000 legionaries were Nubian(the Kushite Legions were usually bigger becuase the army had to make up for skill and training with masses). These desert lands proved to still have some hidden gold contrary to historical records of their depletion hundreds of years ago. The port cities on the Mare Erythraeum and the Nile were given priority for economical development. Rail lines were built as quickly as possible and roads were either constructed or expanded at record speed. In 1070(317) Constantine had secured Nubia for the Empire and trade coming from tropical Africa and even the Indus kingdoms help stabilize the barbaric region. A port city was built on the Mare Erythraeum coast closest to the Nile and was called Pvnicevs Constantinopolis-it was to be Nubia province’s capital. The Kushite Legion was made into an auxiliary group and divided into 50 sets of centuries and Constantine dispersed them on border patrols while placing a more trustworthy Cyrenian Guarrison at the new province’s capital.

These victories brought the Empire livliness, land and even a new culture to fad about, but the treasuries actually ended up somewhat smaller from the campaigns. The new Nubian economy was expected to eventually pay for itself once mining, trade, and agriculture resumed. Communication with one of the Empire’s most distant province was also very highly prioritized. It was the only Caesarian province as yet to have a quadruple trans-provincial rail line. Constantine was very lively himself, his energy made the Senators question their previous worries about the Empire being too large for one man. This Emperor was a valuable strength and the Senators saw it that it would be best to keep Constantine in power as long as possible. When Constantine returned to Rome in 1071(318) he passed the Edict of Milan, a declaration prohibiting persecution or discrimination of a peoples because of their religion. This had mixed results, those hiding their faiths were pleased while those who would prefer them to keep their practices quiet grumbled. Constantine saw this problem and saw the best way to keep the citizens law abiding was to add tolerance to the teachings in the schools. He also made it legal for women to attend the more basic levels of school, though not any higher. Constantine also lowered the fees of the Vapasianvs National School. Attendance increased and over his reign, literacy increased from 35-46% (it had risen 3% in the last 200 years).

Constantine was a religious person, though not in Diocletian’s god-Emperor view. He found most modern religions lacking and so formed his own, loosely based on the lifestyle of the Ancient Ieff Brian. He intended it to be a private religion but it did have limited popularity with the people.

In 1073(320) the general governor of Parthia by the name of Flavivs Licinivs (also born in Moesia) had had enough of Constantine’s liberal religious views and proclaimed Parthia his own Empire. This proved problematic. By now Parthia was a well developing Province with its own military installations and this was the first serious civil war in centuries. Constantine knew this and demanded of those in the Antonivs Dexpiscorari Academia to develop more efficient, powerful, or persuasive weaponry. Many other discontented powerful politicians and generals waited at this moment to see whether it would be wise to rise up or tolerate this new religious toleration, after all, it was what they were raised to do.

Constantine readied his most powerful available legions in the region. This would be a battle of almost equals in tactical terms. Both had bombus alesalitis, both rail lines, both Legions willing to serve. Constantine had the advantage of attrition but knew he could not risk to play the game in case the rebellious prominents lost patience. Many spies were sent in to contact loyal troops, Constantine’s army divided and while one section fought across Mesopostamia, Constantine lead with the other section, making a successful sea landing and bombing of Persepolis as Licinivs fled north. Meeting up with his eastward marching troops, Constantine followed Licinius’ direct flee route, having generals branch off to take important cities along the way. These branchings proved more costly than they were worth and eventually Constantine’s army began having trouble defeating troops Licinivs left behind to stall their advance. Finally, a few loyal centuries met up with Constantine. and the drive recovered though branchings ceased all together. The army looped around all over the place, going so far as Media, then at last pinning Lucinivs in a village called Turin. Lucinivs was unceremoniously killed and his conspirators killed likewise in 1078(325). Constantine was now bitter from the long war. He knew now that rebellions all over the Empire would be more likely since it had taken so long to recapture Parthia. Constantine had those he suspected were loyal to Lucinius’ cause hunted down. The numbers of which were high sadly. Some Parthian cities ended up very depopulated. Constantine called the Senate to have a relocation program for many of the Empires’ overpopulated cities to send settlers over to the newly free land and with lower taxes. This would end up being a good idea with now a much higher minority of Parthia more loyal and established to the Empire. A few cities in Parthia’s East were lost, probably not forever.

Those advancements Constantine asked for from the Antonivs Dexpiscorari Academia came in near the end of the war and were not implemented in time to help. They only included stronger catapult sinews, more rust resistant armour, and in 1083(330) a development of Wootz steel (based on Indian design, much more sharp and tough)

Constantine spent the next 27 years of his reign quelling rebellions and weeding out descenters. Much maintenance and stress, it was a miracle he lived to be 80, dying in 1105(352).