The Great Sarmatian Empire was an confederated, centralized empire based in Sarmatia (modern day Ukraine) that spanned from Britannia to China and Persia to the Baltics. The Empire was the result of King Kossous' unification of Sarmatia in 88-85 B.C, which led to him being crowned 'Emperor of Sarmatia'. The small Iranic empire would expand vastly under his decendants, most notably Burdukhan, Ourgios, Xobas and Iazadagos. Reaching its peak in 250 A.D, the Empire would slowly decline for the next 470 years or so, slowly losing territories to migrating Germans, Huns, Avars, Gauls and to invading Arabs, Turks, Mongols and Chinese. The Empire was also known for its bloodthirsty, superior armies, which was so efficient, most battles were one sided and impossible to win and led to horrendous defeats. Sarmatia was also known to never create vassals or puppets, viewing them as untrustworthy.
Banner of the Sarmatian Empire. The flag was commonly hoisted on a crossbar and orientating on the top. The gold represents victory, the red represents sacrifice, the horse represents the fearless horseman and horse archers that made up a brunt of the Imperial Army, the bow representing the foot archers, and the spear the brave and loyal foot soldiers.
I: Rise of Sarmatia[]
For centuries since they migrated to their current lands, the Sarmatians were a loosely organized confederation, with separate Iranic kings ruling individual kingdoms. There was often heavy infighting between them, which made raiding from Germans, Scythians, Pannonians and Dacians all the more devastating. This was the trend for centuries, and there was even land lost to the Pontic Greeks on the Black Sea when the Bosporan Kingdom was established, a vassal of the Kingdom of Pontus. The Sarmatians were tough on the battlefield, but lacked the unity to drive out invaders and raiders.
Kossous The Unifier[]
This would change in 90 B.C, when Kossous became king of Hamaxobii. He was a warrior and a philosopher, and new unification was the only way to make a name for themselves.
Kossous's War of Conquest[]
Raising an army of nobles and soldiers, Kossous began a military campaign in 88 B.C, aiming to conquer the main Sarmatian kingdoms and unite them. He began by invading Cariones, which was subjugated. He announced his plan to unite Sarmatia, and those who refused unity would be destroyed without mercy. Between 88 and 86, most of Sarmatia was subdued except for the far eastern kingdoms of Borufei and Alauni, who were eager to defeat Kossous on the battlefield. With an army of 17,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry he began his invasion. At first the other Sarmatian nations didn't give battle while they prepared. Some who realized unification was inevitable, defected to Kossous. This brought his numbers up to 20,000 infantry and 2,500 cavalry. By late June of 85 B.C, his enemies had amassed a force of 23,000 infantry and 4,000 cavalry, slightly bigger than his own force when Kossous met them about 100 miles north of Tanais. When battle began the infantry were embroiled in a bloody struggle, swords swinging and archers pelting the other side with arrows. By nightfall over 10,000 men lay dead and Kossous's generals begged him to withdraw. He had them executed for treason and the following morning organized an attack. As his enemies groggily emerged from their tents, arrows came flying down upon them, tipped with fire and caught them off guard. With his enemies disoriented and confused, Kossous led his cavalry across the field, the thunderous hooves plunging into the coalition camp. In the onslaught that followed, at least 17,000 enemy infantry and 3,300 horsemen were slaughtered and the rest sold into slavery. Before they were executed, the kings surrendered to Kossous.
Emperor of All Sarmatians[]
In September, returning to his homeland with his army, Kossous needed to cement the unification. With a roaring crowd in front of him, Kossous was crowned Emperor of Sarmatia, and the Emperor of All Sarmatians. The Emperor then began finishing the work of centralization and creating a properly unified state. Permanent cities were established, carrying the names of the former nations that contained them. One of these was Myriv, which bacame the new capital of the Empire. Cities were established, a unified, permanant Sarmatian Army was constructed and nobles were appointed as governors. Once the Empire became stable once more, Kossous began looking south towards the Bosporan Greeks who had taken over parts of the region. This plan did not pan out as after one battle at Tanais in 75 B.C, the Greeks defeated the Sarmatians and sent them reeling. Such a defeat so soon in the Empire's history was not good, and some of the princes began to question whether this unification would work. Kossous purged his opponents as a result.
The Young Greek Girl[]
In 67 B.C, when the Sarmatians attempted another invasion of the Bosporan Kingdom, they reached as far south as Kerkinitis. The Sarmatians sacked the city and would've nearly killed every Greek in the city, had it not been for Kossous, who stopped short of a young Greek girl named Cressida. She tried to fight the Sarmatian horsemen, despite being only thirteen. This earned Kossous's respect and he took her back to Sarmatia while he anticipated his victory over the Bosporans. This would not come, as in the battle of Chersonesus, the Greek fleet aided in the destruction of over 24,000 Sarmatians, sending them fleeing.
Cressida was viewed as tough, hearty and strong by the Sarmatian nobles as Kossous began teaching her the ways of the warrior. Within only two years she mastered horsemanship and archery and was improving her hand to hand combat skills. In 64 B.C, Kossous tested her. He viewed his sons as weak and incompetent and unable to rule effectively. This was unlike Cressida, who loved politics and was a masterful negotiator. Kossous wished to see just how determined Cressida was to Sarmatia, and ordered her to kill his eight sons, one by one. At first confused over why he would have her do this, Cressida ruthlessly executed her half-brothers, beheading them. Her dress was drenched in so much blood one noble remarked that 'she should have it dyed red'. Cressida was given the new name of her choice, 'Burdukhan' and declared Kossous's heir.
Death of Kossous[]
Kossous was getting older, and he was approaching seventy. Burdukhan stayed by her fathers side as he withered away slowly. Kossous enjoyed these last days with his daughter and he told grand stories to her. He told her to make Sarmatia great and to make the world cower under its might, which Burdukhan promised. A few days later, Kossous died, and Burdukhan was crowned 'Emperor Of All Sarmatians' in 59 B.C.
II: The Reign of Burdukhan, Sarmatia's Great Conqueror[]
Sarmatian heavy cavalry, which made up the bulk of the Army.
Burdukhan did not take long to secure her throne. Within the span of a month, her opponents were dealt with and she began making some serious changes to the Empire. Part of this included military reforms to unify and create a more sound structure. The army was turned into a cavalry based juggernaut, with infantry moved to supporting roles. Burdukhan's decision to do this would be seen as extremely useful later on down the line. The main forces of the Sarmatian Army were heavily armored cavalry, equipped with long pikes. Next to this were the horse archers, which were brutal on the battlefield and were deemed as some of the best horseman for the time. Finally were the infantry, which operated in support of the cavalry, and mopping up enemy resistance. Each soldier was equipped with a sixteen foot spear, based off of the Greek and Macedonian Phalanx. The Sarmatian infantry also were equipped with scimitars for closer combat. The army was given green uniforms to appear as one cohesive force and not just a mob of savage nomadic warriors.
_01.jpg){kind=link}
A statue of Emperor Burdukhan constructed in 57 B.C, standing before the new Imperial Palace in Solokha.
Burdukhan also reformed the the new tax system in which all men and women were required to meet a certain quota of tax for the Empire to avoid being enslaved. But by 56 B.C, Burdukhan decided to test out her new army. Sometime in this year, she led an army of 50,000 men in an invasion of the Bosporan Kingdom.
Invasion of the Bosporan Kingdom[]
Campaign of 56 B.C[]
Burdukhan's invasion was swift and brutal. Kalos Limen, Kerkinitis, Scythian Neapolis and Chersonesus all fell within a couple weeks of each other, and each was sacked and pillaged. The Greeks tried to raise an army, and called upon the Pontus to reinforce them. Mithridates VI answered the call and sent a fleet of 70 warships to help Pharnaces II repel the Sarmatians. But it was too late. In late 56 B.C, Theodosia was sacked and burned and the Sarmatians laid siege to the coastal cities.
When Pontic reinforcements began to arrive, their numbers were halved due to the efforts of the horse archers and the tenacity of the infantry on the shoreline.
Campaign of 55 B.C[]
Burdukhan traveled north and in the spring of 55 B.C, launched a second invasion of the Bosporan Kingdom. Tanais surrendered without a fight and as such was spared the brute of the Sarmatian forces. The cavalry's speed proved too much for the Greeks, and they reached Bata and Torik, both of which refused to surrender. They were pillaged and burned. Burdukhan joined the siege and used her archers to pummel more of the Pontic fleet, which withdrew in late spring to early summer. The Bosporan forces sent a plea for mercy, begging to be spared. Burdukhan sent back a blood spattered sheet of papyrus and the envoys head. In June, she ordered an all out assault against the remaining cities. Within a week, they were wiped off of the map and Pharnaces II was murdered. The entire kingdom was annexed.
A New Target[]
Burdukhan had destroyed the Bosporan Kingdom and now turned her eyes south towards Pontus, which had assisted Pharnaces in the war. She sent 2,000 riders south to demand Mithridates VI submit to the Emperor or to have his kingdom in turn wiped off of the map. The riders reached the Caucasus mountains but were forced to turn back when they couldn't find a way through. They told Burdukhan that Pontus lied beyond the edge of the world, and Mithridates may in fact be one of the Sarmatian gods. This prompted Burdukhan to back down, though she had no intentions of ceasing her conquests here. She quickly developed a new target in mind:
Germania.
The Germanic Struggle[]
The Germans and Sarmatians had long been at odds, with the Germans launching regular raids against Sarmatian towns and forts. Burdukhan was determined to end the struggle once and for all. In early 54 B.C she sent an ultimatum to all German tribes, demanding they submit, or be destroyed. The Germans did not believe that the Sarmatians had united, and believed this was an unruly king. Pretty much all of the Germans refused Burdukhan's ultimatum, which is exactly what she wanted. Only the Quadi submitted and told Burdukhan they would ready their troops for war.
Invasion of Germania[]
Campaign of 54 B.C[]
In early spring, the Emperor led 60,000 men into the lands of the Ligians, while her husband, Irauadis led another 42,000 men against the northern Ligians. The Germans were surprised and as such were completely unprepared. The Sarmatians slaughtered 80% of their population and burned down almost all of their villages. Burdukhan then invaded the Osi while Irauadis invaded the Gothones (What I presume to be Goths). By early summer, they both fell with no mercy. By late summer the Gotini and Marsigni had burned and Burdukhan had met up with her new Quadi allies.
She then invaded the Marcomanni while her husband tackled the new coalition made up of Burgundians, Rugians, Avarians and Lemovians. While the coalition was shattered before winter, the Marcomanni proved to be a worthier foe. But, by late winter, they too had fallen and Burdukhan quartered for the winter.
Campaign of 53 B.C[]
The following winter, the Buri submitted, seeing what had happened to their neighbors. Burdukhan had planned on invading them in the near future to pincer the Vandals, she agreed with relative haste. She new the Quadi and Buri would then be her last conquests in Germania. Burdukhan and Irauadis invaded the Vandals in April of 53 B.C, and they were slaughtered. An estimated 90% of the Vandals were killed and the rest enslaved. A new coalition was assembled to face the Sarmatians: The Sueves, Lombards, Gambrivians and Fosi all raised a colossal army of 25,000 men to face the Sarmatians.
The Sarmatian armies departed to deal with this coalition and destroy these tribes in one fell swoop. Burdukhan was a brilliant general, and she easily lured the German troops to battle in an open field. When there, the Sarmatian horse archers and heavy cavalry slaughtered them in the open before the Sarmatian pikemen moved out and dealt the killing blow. Not a single German was spared in the battle and the Sarmatians quickly moved on. By mid summer, all four tribes had been destroyed and she turned her swords towards the Cherusci.
These Germans tried to appeal for aid from Julius Caesar, finishing up his wars in Gaul, but he refused. He believed this was trick, and he was unfamiliar with the terrain and knew he would be outclassed tactically by the Germans. So the Cherusci were on their own. They hastily assembled a coalition with the Marsi, Chatti and the Bructeri. That went just as well as expected. They were slaughtered. Burdukhan's forces were exhausted and so she wintered early, in early October. Irauadis embarked on a final invasion into the Angles, which fell quickly.
It was during the winter of 53 B.C that Burdukhan became pregnant and was rushed back home to Solokha. She appointed Karzouazos to command her armies in the meantime.
Campaign of 52 B.C[]
Iraudis started the campaigning season by invading Jutland, but more specifically the Tuetons. These warriors were tough, and it took Iraudis a whole of three months to subdue them. By late summer, all of Jutland, including the Cimbri and the Jutes had fallen. He rushed south, where Karzouazos was wrapping up the German Wars.
Karzouazos had proven his skill on the battlefield, and he had wiped out most of the Germans and reached the Rhine River. When Iraudis arrived, the two men joined forces and finished off what was left of the Germans, which was the Frisians and Batavians. The Frisians were easy prey, but the Batavians, inhabiting multiple small islands, were tougher to crack. This is when the Romans began noticing the Sarmatians. The massive Sarmatian Army used their infantry to cross the rivers between islands, while supported by horse archer fire and siege engines from the shore. Despite this support, the Sarmatians took heavy losses in the Batavian campaign. Eventually, they fell, and Germany had fallen. Over 3 million Germans had died in the process, a staggering number for ancient times, and Iraudis sent word back to Burdukhan just after word came that she had given birth to a son.
Burdukhan was extremely happy that her soldiers had found another edge of the world, but she heard there was more in the West to conquer. Once she recovered from the birth, she led a new army west.
Campaign of 51 B.C[]
Burdukhan invaded the Quadi and the Buri, slaughtering them within a month, truly completing the conquest of Germania. She met up with Iraudis and Karzouazos, where they decided on how to properly govern. Karzouazos was deathly loyal, so the western provinces of Germania were given to him to govern, while other loyal governors were tasked with governing the rest.
However, Burdukhan led her new colossal army to the Rhine, where she prepared to test another foe: Julius Caesar.
Sarmatia Versus Roman Republic[]
Crossing The Rhine[]
Burdukhan knew a little about the Roman Republic. She knew it was vast and, unlike Germany, would be next to impossible to conquer and control. She merely sought to probe the Roman military machine and see how well oiled it was. She wished to see how powerful it was and perhaps at that point, take control of Gaul as it would have good defensive points. She organized her forces, as well as Iraudis and Karzouazos into three armies, which in June of 51 B.C, crossed the Rhine simultaneously. This occured during a political crisis in Rome itself, where Julius Caesar was squaring off against Pompey the Great. Upon hearing word of a mysterious army which slaughtered the Germans was invading Gaul, Caesar gathered his legions and raced north to deal with the threat.
Campaign of 51 B.C[]
Burdukhan blazed and pillaged all villages she came across, and Karzouazos wasn't far behind her. She sacked Bagacum in July and heard Caesar had taken the bait. She sprang a trap near the English Channel, close to the city of Portius Itius, which featured flat terrain in which the Sarmatians thrived on.
Battle of Portius Itius[]
Caesar arrived in early August and overlooked the situation and was shocked by the size of the enemy army. He made camp and began plotting with Titus Labienus over what to do next. The Romans did not know what tactics the Sarmatians used and so tried to egg them into an attack.
Burdukhan saw through this ploy and refused to play into the Romans hand. Days passed and Caesar sent riders to negotiate and find out what the Sarmatians wanted. The Emperor had each one killed, further irking Caesar. Finally, Caesar marched his forces out and the Sarmatian horse archers engaged, sending thousands of missiles their way. The Romans got into position and managed to take only minimal losses. Burdukhan then ordered her cavalry to charge across the field. The Romans held their own, impressing Burdukhan greatly, though under fire from the archers, it was only a matter of time before the Romans broke. She withdrew her cavalry before leading her infantry on horseback. The Romans were shocked by the sally and turned and fled. But Burdukhan rerouted her cavalry which overwhelmed the Roman rear guard.
The Sarmatians attacked the Roman camp, where Caesar picked up arms and prepared to fight and watched in horror as the Sarmatians picked off his men, even when begging to surrender. Less than an hour later, 95% of Caesar's forces were wiped out and a small cohort had managed to escape south. Caesar was trapped here and as Burdukhan waded through the mass of Roman dead, he was brought before the Emperor. Burdukhan was impressed by Caesar's skill and requested he join her as a client king to secure Rome. But Caesar refused to be a puppet, and Burdukhan ordered he be imprisoned and would later be put to death.
The Storming of Alesia (50 B.C), painted in 1545
Caesar would escape however, and the Sarmatians guarding him were executed. Burdukhan gave her men some time to rest before continuing the Gallic campaign.
"Gaul is Mine"[]
Burdukhan led her forces across Western Gaul. The pillaging and savaging continuing. A Gallic auxiliary army resisted at Lutetia, but was crushed, beginning the invasion of Celtica Gaul. She proceeded to Meclodunum, which surrendered and was spared any brutality. By the end of the year, the Sarmatians had sacked Agedincum, but had withdrawn back to Meclodunum to quarter for the winter.
Campaign of 50 B.C[]
Departing out in March, the Sarmatian Army retook Agedincum with no resistance, the inhabitants having fled when hearing they were returning for more. Burdukhan ordered Karzouazos to march west to scout the area. He took and razed Cenabaum in June, while Burdukhan laid siege to Alesia. This city was where Caesar had finally pacified Gaul only two years prior.
Karzouazos took Noviodunum in July and pushed south into the territory of the Biturges, which opened their gates to the Sarmatian Army, seeing as Rome was still preparing to strike back. In August, Alesia fell before Burdukhan was issued word of a crisis back in Sarmatia, that required her attention. She left Karzouazos in charge of both armies, which he merged in early September. Moving to the west, he decided to move on Avaricum, where Caesar was rumored to be rebuilding his army. He rapidly moved his cavalry, though his infantry remained slower moving. When he arrived in late October, he surrounded the city, where Caesar indeed was, and laid siege to the city.
Siege of Avaricum[]
Karzouazos's lines were strong, though Caesar had 8 legions in Avaricum, or around 40,000 men. Marc Antony had a further 3 legions, (15000 men) in Burdigala which were scrambled to the north in record speed. Karzouazos began to strangle Caesar by cutting off his fresh water supplies and sending raiders out to intercept any baggage or supply trains. They worked stupendously at this task, and Caesar's supplies were dwindling. Finally, Marc Antony arrived in November and in a night raid smashed through a weak point in the Sarmatian lines. They broke Caesar out and his massive army rapidly escaped out of Avaricum. When day broke and Karzouazos became aware of this, he ordered an all out assualt. The Sarmatians took the city, blazed it to the ground, but it was too late.
The general swiftly ordered 2,000 riders out to find Caesar and Antony, and by noon, they found them. Karzouazos ordered them to harass them while the main army pursued them. When the Sarmatian heavy cavalry engaged the Romans, without the support of the horse archers, they began to break down. After losing 600 men, the Sarmatians turned and fled back to the main army, and the Romans gained a boost of morale.
The Caesar Campaign[]
Karzouazos followed Caesar and Antony southeast, using his cavalry to harass the enemy, and each time they were repelled. Finally Karzouazos caught up with his adversaries at Cubi Plain, where he the two generals tried to lure the other into a pitched battle. Neither could succeed. Finally, when they did mutually move out to engage, the fighting did not go as Karzouazos expected. The Roman formations were difficult to crack, and the cavalry and infantry took heavy losses. For three days, they fought one of the bloodiest battles in antiquity, and when the smoke cleared, neither side had won. Karzouazos lost 36,000 dead and 20,000 injured, and Caesar 30,000 dead and 18,000 injured.
Karzouazos decided to move out and sent an envoy offering peace terms to Caesar, which he accepted. The Treaty of Avaricum set the border between the two empires as the Rhine and Danube Rivers.
Burdukhan's Rage[]
Upon her favorite generals return to Solokha, Burdukhan was informed of the Treaty of Avaricum. She remained cold and quiet for a moment, though the glint in her eyes were deadly. She then burst out in rage, Karzouazos having not informed the Emperor of the treaty attempts beforehand. She said that she had intended to destroy Caesar once more, and the general had robbed her of that victory. Karzouazos tried to explain that their armies took heavy casualties and trying to pursue further would've been detrimental. He also explained that Rome was an untameable beast, and would not be destroyed so easily. Burdukhan perhaps took some of this to heart, but still proclaimed Karzouazos a traitor and had him exiled from the land, though he was assassinated on the way there.
She took the treaty to heart, ordering her armies to the Danube to make sure the Romans also obeyed the treaty. This saw war with the Dacians in 49 B.C, though the resistance was futile against the might of Sarmatia. Even Rome understood how strong this vast juggernaut of an empire was and the Republic sought to provoke Sarmatia as little as possible.
The Steppes: Burdukhan's last conquests[]
After recovering for a number of years, five to be precise, Burdukhan still itched for more prestige and conquest, despite the nobles pleading not to. She refuted their fears, stating that the empire was already vast and that the German population was so small that it could not put up a rebellion, at least an organized one ever again. She made sure of that. The Greeks had long since been subdued, though the East, the endless expanse of steppes was the jewel that the Emperor craved. In 42 B.C, long after Caesar had been killed, Burdukhan organized an army of 89,000, a bohemoth for the time and led them east. Her horseman slaughtered their way east, subjugating all in their pathes.
Burdukhan led the troops south towards the Caucasus, as she was determined to see the end of the world. She reached this area after defeating a coalition army of Armenians, Georgians and Pontic Greeks. She smashed this army and sent them back over the mountains which convinced Burdukhan that there was land to be conquered beyond the mountains. She sent riders and scouts across, and she waited for weeks, but they never returned, infuriating the Emperor, who moved north to continue subjugating the Steppes. This phase of conquest lasted from 42 to 37 B.C and ended when Burdukhan tried to cross the Ural River, though her troops, tired and exhausted, mutinied and she was forced to return back to Sarmatia.
Managing the Empire[]
Burdukhan was an expert statesman and ruled wisely and efficiently. The Germans had been ruthlessly subdued, peace with Rome was secure, though Burdukhan eyed this with glee as the Republic rumbled and ruptured through civil war and triumvirates. She put in place a policy in 33 B.C of 'total annihilation'. This policy stated that if a subjugated group were to rebel or revolt against the Empire and against the Emperor, that the entire ethnic group or tribe or land would be scorched, and no man, woman or child would be spared this brutality.
The Ligians, long anguishing for being the first Germanic tribe and seething after losing 80% of its population, decided to test this policy. In 32 B.C the Ligians revolted and within a month, the entire tribe was wiped out and nothing was left behind. Seeing this, other subjugated tribes and nations sought to ever please the Empire and retained total loyalty.
Then in 31 B.C, the Roman Republic fell into anarchy once more, with Octavian and Marc Antony duking it out in Greece and Egypt. Burdukhan realized this was her last chance to exact her due vengeance against Rome. Her advisors and nobles begged the now 49 year old Emperor to heed and maintain the Treaty of Avaricum. Rome would be impossible to conquer, they pleaded. But Burdukhan had no intention of conquering the Republic...
She only wanted it to burn.
The Fall of Rome[]
Campaign of 31 B.C[]
Burdukhan gathered her German armies, her Dacian armies and some of her elite squadrons of cavalry and gathered them at Castra Regina and Lauriacum. The two forces each numbered around 50,000 men, and this force would be responsible for one of the greatest campaigns in ancient history. As Octavian and Agrippa besieged Antony and Cleopatra at Actium in Greece, Burdukhan led her wing of the army around the Alps and into Gaul. The other army, led by Iraudis crossed the Danube and quickly overwhelmed the local garrison. As Antony fell, Burdukhan sacked Vesontio and marched on Lugdunum. As Octavian and Agrippa pursued their defeated foes to Egypt, Lugdunum fell as did Vindelicorum and the Sarmatian cavalry rushed towards the Mediterranean. Word reached Rome, and a message was scrambled to Egypt.
When Octavian heard of this invasion and violation of the treaty, he flipped. He ordered the legions in Pannonia to move to northern Italia to reinforce as he predicted correctly that the Sarmatians were going to try and invade Italy. This order went off without a hitch, though Massalia, abandoned and defenseless attempted to surrender, though Burdukhan did not accept this fate and razed it to the ground. Meanwhile Octavian ordered the legions in Africa to also reinforce Italia. before the end of the year, Iraudis sacked Aquilea.
Campaign of 30 B.C[]
Burdukhan and her husband invaded Cisalphine Gaul as soon as possible. Their forces overwhelmed the locals, and Genua was sacked. 40,000 Romans fortified Mediolanum, hoping to be besieged to offer time. Iraudis took the bait and laid siege to the city, but Burdukhan to the shock of the defenders rerouted south... and invaded Italy.
Between April and July, 30 B.C, the Sarmatian Army laid waste to everything in sight. Farms, mines, villages and cities alike. Great cities would be reduced to ash, many of which would never recover or be rebuilt.
Pisae.
Ravenna.
Florentia.
Neapolis.
Pompeii.
Tarentum.
Brundisium.
Most importantly of all... Rome. Rome fell on July 5, 30 B.C, and the Sarmatians left nothing behind. Everything was destroyed and ruined. Mediolanum fell the next day and suffered the same fate. Every single inhabitant of the Eternal City was butchered, raped and slaughtered.
Then... The Sarmatians left Italy, taking everything they could and leaving nothing behind. By the beginning of August, they vanished behind the mountains, just as quickly as they had emerged.
When Octavian returned to ruins of Rome, piled high with charred corpses, he fell to his knees and wept, swearing on Jupiters name that he would destroy Sarmatia one day. During the Invasion of Rome, it is estimated that twenty-one million Romans were ruthlessly put to death, on par with genocide. The industrial level efficiency of the slaughter would put Adolf Hitler to shame. Rome was forced to relocate to Corinth, but the main Roman population was wiped off the map and reduced to ash. Over time, as Rome itself became abandoned, as was Italy, the Republic fractured into multiple kingdoms and states, ruled by Italians or Greeks.