User blog comment:Pacificus Viridis/Gaul Rising/@comment-32656-20120330073102/@comment-32656-20120404080112

That invasion you're referring to was literally just ending when he declared his empire. Add to that past invasions, ones before 235 still being in living memory, and constant incursions into the border regions. As well as ones long before then, too. No matter how prosperous, or safe, they are, it's still a major problem.

Both sides screwed each other over in deals of this nature, quite often. I'm sure you've heard the idea - the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward - before. This is a massive risk for both sides - neither can trust the other. It's just not going to fly. Territory is a new aspect, I admit - but with this history? They would be literally nuts to take it.