Belisarius as Emperor in a mosaic in the Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna
I'm starting this timeline with the same PoD as Emperor Belisarius. I thought about adopting that one, but I want this to go in a different direction. - False Dmitri (talk)
Ravenna, 539[]
Belisarius, the most successful Roman general in centuries, faced a tough dilemma late in the year 539. He had overpowered the Vandals and was on the verge of conquering the Goths - two of Rome's most fearsome ancient enemies. After five long years in Italy, the Goths were ready to submit as well; but unlike the Vandals, they still had some strength left. They were looking for a compromise. Belisarius' emperor Justinian had offered to divide the territory of Italy, leaving the Goths with a rump kingdom north of the Po. The Goths then countered with an unusual offer: turn back the clock sixty years. Bring back a Western Emperor, and the Goths would submit to his rule as foederati.
Belisarius did not particularly like either of these options. Justinian's offer would clearly not last. The Goths would treat it as a temporary setback while they regrouped and prepared a counterattack. This would be especially easy to do while confined to the far north of Italy, with easy access to potential co-conspirators like the Burgundians and the Franks. But the Goths' offer would put Belisarius in direct opposition to Justinian, whom he had loyally served for his entire career. Justinian had ordered his general to report back to the capital to plan a defense against the Persians, who were now on the march in the east, spurred on in part by the Goths themselves.
Belisarius instead wanted to pursue his war in Italy to its conclusion, completing his siege of the capital Ravenna. But this too was risky. With war breaking out in the east, the Romans would not be able to send any additional forces to hold Italy or even fully de-Gothicize the country. This would also merely set the stage for a second Gothic war. No option was ideal.
In our timeline, Belisarius tried to square this circle. First he pretended to accept the Goths' offer before turning against them, seizing Ravenna for Justinian; he then answered the call of loyalty and returned to Constantinople. This was perhaps the worst course he could have taken, because now the Goths not only were left with enough strength to continue the war, but they were also really, really angry.
In this timeline, Belisarius instead made the gut-wrenching choice to defy his sovereign in order to maintain his conquests - for the good of the Empire, of course. He accepted the Purple and became Emperor of the West. A letter went back to Constantinople. Justinian had only to read the opening line - "to my brother", the old Diocletianic formula for one emperor addressing another - to know he had been betrayed.
The West, Restored[]
Justinian was enraged, but the ensuing war against Persia meant that there was little that he could do. By the time he could turn his attention westward again, his general's rule was fairly well established.
Belisarius set to work organizing the Western Empire. He quicky sent dispatches and officers to Carthage and the islands to notify them of his elevation. He had coins struck in his name. And he appointed local officials. He created a fairly stark division between the civil and military administration. Key civil positions went to Roman senators in Italy. The loftiest of these was the Praetorian Prefect of Italy, who would serve essentially as a deputy emperor. Meanwhile, leading Goths were confirmed in military posts. Some Goths were even sent to Africa to keep the peace in the former Vandal kingdom. Africa was facing renewed attacks by the Moorish tribes of the desert, so Gothic troops were badly needed.
The new arrangement brought stability to Italy, which was already suffering from five years of war and famine. Belisarius' rule saved it from another fifteen years of devastation. It marked a true restoration of the Western Empire.
The East, however, faced immediate challenges. Justinian was not prepared for the invasion from Persia, which was soon joined by a major incursion by Bulgar raiders across the Danube. With his top general away playing Emperor, Justinian had a much more difficult time answering these challenges. The devastating plague of 541 weakened the empire still further, though as it affected Persia just as badly, it also brought at least a temporary end to the fighting.
The Uneasy Brothers[]
- War with Persia
- The Plague of 541
- War with the Franks and Alemanni
- Events in Spain
- The Bulgar invasion
- The Council of Constantinople
- The death of the brother emperors
Long-term Effects[]
Succeeding Western emperors were able to defend the Alpine frontier against incursions not only by the Franks and Burgundians, but also a new arrival, the Lombards. Classical civilization held on and eventually thrived in the country, as well as in Africa. When the Arabs conquered Egypt and Syria, the West held the line against them, eventually recovering Cyrene; though Egypt was permanently lost.
The division of Justinian's empire was ultimately also good for the East. The senior emperor and his successors spent no more resources defending Italy and could devote their attention to the frontiers and lands closer to the capital.
Justinian's initial sense of betrayal did not pass to all of his successors. Later Eastern emperors found plenty of common ground with their "brothers" in Italy, and a shared sense of Romanitas persisted into the following centuries. The foundations that Justinian laid in his law code and Church council would serve as a basis of unity between East and West for many generations.