by Geoff Fabron
THE ETERNAL EMPIRE
An alternate history novel of The Roman Empire in the 20th Century
By Geoff Fabron
Text copyright © 2012 Geoffrey Fabron
All Rights Reserved
Dedication
To my wife Lesley for her support, my son Robert for his ideas and my daughter Victoria for the drawings and amazing cover picture.
Also thanks to Gary Mitchell for his encouragement to push ahead and publish 15 years after I first wrote it!
Table of Contents
The Eternal Empire - Foreword
MAIN CHARACTERS
MAPS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
The Eternal Empire - Foreword
Why the Roman Empire fell has been the subject of academic debate and investigation for centuries. Gibbons monumental 'History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' is the most well known work on the subject but there have been many other books since then which have investigated various aspects of the collapse of Rome and have attempted to explain the reasons behind it. One of the dominant themes encountered in these books is that of whether the fall was inevitable. With hindsight, it is generally possible to point to long term social or economic trends, or overwhelming external pressures to shoe that Rome was powerless to prevent its collapse.
But was it inevitable? In the western world we tend to look upon either the sack of Rome in 410 by Alaric or when Odoacer deposed the last Western Emperor in 476 as the end of the Roman Empire. However in the East the other half of the Empire continued to live and prosper. Constantinople remained as the capital of an Empire that survived for another thousand years - more than twice as long as the combined Empire had been ruled from Rome. To history it became known as the Byzantine Empire after the ancient town of Byzantium upon which Constantine the Great built his new capital. Yet throughout its existence, its Emperors and its people thought of themselves and referred to themselves as Romans. In them the Roman Empire continued, with an unbroken chain of Emperors until the last, Constantine XI died defending the walls of Constantinople against the Ottoman Turks in 1453.
If the Empire lasted another thousand years after the city of Rome fell, why not fifteen hundred or two thousand?
In the sixth century, the eastern Empire under Justinian the Great attempted to re-conquer the Western provinces from the Germanic tribes that occupied them.. Africa fell quickly and a few enclaves in Southern Spain were established but it took a twenty year war to dislodge the Ostro-Goths from Italy and the peninsular was devastated. At about the same time the eastern Empire was ravaged by a plague that decimated the population reducing both the manpower pool for the army and the economic base to support a war of expansion. Justinian's re-conquest ground to a halt.
This is the point at which the alternate history in 'The Eternal Empire' diverges from what really happened. In the history of ‘The Eternal Empire’ the Ostro-Goths in Italy succumb to the armies of Justinian as quickly as the Vandals had in Africa. There was no plague in the East to sap the resources of the Empire, and after Italy, Spain was retaken from the Visi-Goths and eventually Gaul from the Franks. By the end of the sixth century Roman armies once again patrolled the Rhine. In due course Britain also rejoins the Empire.
With the Western provinces united with the East, the long war with Sassanid Persia at the beginning of the seventh century does not drain the Empire as it did, and consequently allows a more effective defence against the armies of Islam that burst out of Arabia so soon after the peace with Persia. Syria and Palestine are still lost to the Arabs (the Empire still loses the Battle of Yarmuk) but Egypt is held. The armies of Islam concentrate more on the East and conquer most of India instead.
Due to the greater strength of the Empire, the Turkish migrations of the tenth century that led to the eventual demise of the Byzantine Empire are unable to penetrate into Anatolia (Asia Minor, modern Turkey) and instead head through the Caucasus into Southern Russia. The Ottoman Empire establishes itself in what is today south-east Europe and the Ukraine having its border with the Empire on the Danube.
The New World is discovered by Roman Explorers in the sixteenth century but only North America is colonised as population pressures in Europe are not as acute as historically occurred. The Aztec, Mayan and Inca Empires suffer the historical depredations caused by their contact with diseases from Europe but are allowed time to recover and maintain their own civilisations rather than being destroyed and subsumed by European culture. In the eighteenth century the Roman colonies in the New World revolt over taxation and imperial interference, declaring their independence. The United Provinces are formed with a government modelled after that of Republican Rome.
In Europe the German tribes beyond the Rhine develop into a number of States, the largest of which is Saxony in northern and central Europe, and there are regular wars between the Germanic States and the Empire. Only in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries do German and Roman fight together to halt the Turkish advance into Europe.
By the beginning of the twentieth century, the Rhine and the Danube are still the borders of the Roman Empire in Europe. Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) is a Roman province with a Greek speaking population, and Syria and Palestine are part of the Arabian Caliphate. Egypt has changed hands between the Arabs and the Empire half a dozen times in the past twelve hundred years and is once again a Roman province but with a large Moslem Minority. Railways criss-cross the Empire linking distant provinces like the old Roman roads used to. Motor vehicles and air planes are relatively recent inventions and although they are fairly common they are not widespread.
At the end of 1919, as the novel begins, the Roman Empire is the dominant nation in Europe.
MAIN CHARACTERS
Cornelius Petronius - Diplomat in Imperial Service. Assigned to Minden Embassy to assist with trade negotiations
Titus Petronius - Younger brother of Cornelius. Junior Tribune in legio II Augusta in Britannia
Tiberius Petronius - Uncle of Cornelius and Titus. Recently appointed Legate of legio I Germanica on Rhine frontier
Gregory Nicerites - Senior Civil Servant in Constantinople. Served with Cornelius in North Africa
Marcus Metellus - Served with Cornelius on the Rhine. Now a member of the Imperial Assembly for the Modernist Party
Sextus Capito - Served under Cornelius in Britannia. Now Quastor (senior financial officer) in Britannia
Manual Dikouros - Husband of Stephanie Dikouros. Commander of the Roman Armies on the Rhine Frontier
Stephanie Dikouros - Wife of Manual and current mistress of the Emperor
Anatolius Petronius - Father of Cornelius and Titus. Successful businessman
Julia Petronius - Mother of Cornelius and Titus
Fulvia Antoninius - Daughter of close friends of Petronius family and long time friend of Cornelius
Issac Taronites - Roman Ambassador to Kingdom of Saxony
Lucullus Drusus - Head of Legion Guard Unit at Ambassy in Minden and in charge of Intelligence gathering
Frederick Malaric - Saxon Count and head of Trade Affairs in the Kingdom
Katherine Malaric - Younger sister of Frederick
&nb
sp; Franz Malaric - Younger brother of Frederick and Katherine. Staff Officer in Saxon Army Headquarters
Paulus Godisger - Saxon Count and overall commander of the Saxon Army
John Phocas - Leader of Modernist Party in the Imperial Assembly
Basil Diogenates - Recently appointed Governor of City of Tarraco in Hispania
Felix Gallus - Provincial Governor of Province of Hispania
Alexander Ducas - Emperor Alexander IX of the Roman Empire
Leo Ducas - Commander of the Army of Egypt
Manual Strategicus - Commander of the Army of Asia Minor
Gunther Hortar - Saxon Count and head of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom
Otho VIII - King of Saxony
Romanus Philokates - Governor of Britannia
Demetrius Dalassenis - Replacement Governor of Britannia
Claudius Probus - General. Chief of Imperial General Staff
Isaac Opus - Head of Imperial Treasury
Magnus Lepidus - Member of Modernist Party
Demetrius Exanzenus - Senator. Very rich head of large commercial conglomerate
Leo Laetus - Radical Party leader in Tarraco
Rufius Gallicus - Auxiliary Commander in Tarraco
Virius Primus - Junior Tribune in legio II Augusta
Quintus Flaccus - Leader of Britannia’s rebel Assembly
Lucullus Verus - Chief Minister of Empire
Georges Carbaros - Personal Assistant to Gregory Nicerites
John Bryennius - Junior Tribune in legio II Trajana
Silvanus Anemas - Intelligence Officer (Tribune) at Rhine Army Headquarters
Marcellus Comnenus - Deputy Commander of Roman Army on the Rhine Frontier
Quintus Drusis - Commander of a Fortress on the Trajan Line in Germania
Alexius Cabasila - Chief of Staff of the Roman Army on the Rhine Frontier
Constantine Monomachus - Governor of Pannonia
Munius Burrus - Tribune of Auxiliaries in Britannia
MAPS
Chapter One
1st December 1919
Rhine Frontier, Saxony
On a hill in Saxony overlooking the river Rhine, near the imperial city of Confluentes a man stood staring down at the river, the city and the countryside around it. It was early afternoon and quite pleasant despite the time of year, with no wind and a clear sky. It looked like being the mildest winter in living memory, but the man staring down at the grey mass of water that flowed with such force from the Alps to the sea had little interest in weather forecasts. At least not for the next few months.
He had a closely trimmed iron grey beard, which was in keeping with the uniform he wore, that of a General of Armies of the Kingdom of Saxony. Most people would have said ‘The’ General of the Armies since Count Paulus Godisger was the only Saxon to hold that title which was the highest rank in the army after the King himself. Most people would have been right.
He had been staring for some time, as though in a dream. He was thinking back some thirty years to when he was a young officer and had first crossed that mighty river below. He had not crossed as a trader or on holiday as many were doing today. He had crossed with a sword in one hand and a handgun in the other leading the soldiers of his father's regiment into battle. He also remembered the return crossing, back into Saxony with his men, those that were left, fighting a rearguard action against the pursuing Legions, desperately keeping them away from the remaining bridges across the Rhine that were still held by the defeated Saxon army. Godisger with the remnants of his regiment was the last to escape across before the Imperial artillery zeroed in on the last bridgehead, but he had helped saved a large part of the army from capture or death. That experience had changed him, as war changes so many.
He had known the men in his father's regiment. They had been from the farms and towns that made up his father’s estates in the rich farmlands of North Saxony. He had helped them gather crops at harvest time, drank beer with them at village festivals and trained with them during their initial military service and subsequent annual exercises. After the war he had ridden around the estates. The looks he had received from the mothers and wives of those who had not returned was branded into his memory, and deep in his soul he felt guilty that he had survived when so many had died beneath the guns of the legions of Rome.
Paulus Godisger had remained in the army, but remained distant from those he commanded. He was never cruel or unfair, but he was never warm towards them either. The officers and men under his command neither liked nor disliked him, but they did respect him. They called him the 'Ice General', and it was commonly believed that he had been born devoid of any feelings or emotion apart from anger and hate.
His wife knew differently. She remembered the dashing young man she had fallen in love with one summer many years ago. He had laughed, and joked and had been the one that others went to when they had a problem, confident that Paulus Godisger, son of their Count would help them or at least listen with a sympathetic ear. The man who had come back from across the Rhine after the war no longer laughed or listened to the problems of others. But she knew that the feelings were still there, buried deep within him, submerged by his abiding hatred of the Empire. She heard them at night when he called out the names of the friends of his youth, dead these thirty years.
General Godisger turned around; the lands of the Empire now to his back. A few yards away were a dozen middle ranking officers who made up his planning staff. They had been waiting patiently whilst their general relived his past. The general picked out one of them with his eyes.
"What is across the river?" he asked sharply.
"The Roman Empire, general," replied the officer, a tribune of cavalry.
"Of course it's the Roman Empire you idiot!" he snapped, "I'm well aware of basic geography, especially since it has barely changed in two thousand years!" The General now scanned the assembled officers, briefly locking his eyes on each man in turn.
"What you need to know is what that river, and the lands beyond it mean to the Kingdom of Saxony. Do you have any thoughts on that?"
After seeing the way the cavalry officer had had his head snapped off, nobody was rushing forward to volunteer an answer. It did not matter because the General was going to tell them anyway.
"Beyond that river lies the future of the Saxon people. Decisions taken over there determine whether our craftsmen can sell their goods, or our ships sail the oceans freely. They levy taxes and duties on our trade with other nations simply because it crosses their borders. They can decide if the Saxons are to become a great nation or just one of many minor countries constantly in awe of the majesty of Rome."
Again he briefly scanned the faces of the men before him and continued. "It doesn't take a genius to work out that it is not in the interest of the Empire to see Saxony strong and powerful."
He turned to face across the Rhine once more. "The Romans understand one thing and one thing only. Power! The kind of power that comes from military might. Only by being able to defeat them on the field of battle will we be able to force the Romans to accept Saxony as a nation to be treated with respect. Only then will they stop strangling our trade, refusing to allow our ships to carry their goods and taxing what our farmers grow to feed the parasites in Constantinople."
One of the staff officers decided to risk a question.
"What you say is true General, but how are we going to defeat them? Their army and navy is strong, well trained and ably led. To embark on a war with them is to risk another humiliating defeat and the decimation of our soldiers."
General Godisger stared at the officer with his cold piercing eyes. The other officers subconsciously moved slightly away from their colleague in case they caught some of the verbal blast they were sure was coming. They were mistaken.
"You are correct tribune Malaric. We cannot risk a war with the Romans. Not at the moment that is."
The officers relaxed slightly and listened to what they now realised was the real lesson behind th
is journey to the frontier in winter.
"You must study your history gentlemen. The Romans will grow complacent, they will start to fight amongst themselves or allow their army to deteriorate. It has happened in the past and I believe that it is happening again. When the time comes we must be ready to strike. It may be next month, next year or even in ten years time, but we must not miss the opportunity. Because if we do the name of the Saxons will become just another name in the history books along with the Carthaginians, Macedonians, Gauls, Goths, Vandals and Vikings."
"When you return to headquarters after spending Christmas with your families, you will only have one task. To prepare plans to destroy the Roman army across the Rhine and enable Saxony to treat with the Empire as an equal."
Imperial Palace, Constantinople
Alexander had been half asleep, when a knock on the door of his private chambers brought him to full consciousness. He stretched as he sat up against the silk pillows, his muscles protesting mildly at the exertion. The knock on the door repeated itself, slightly louder this time.
"Yes. What is it?"
"I apologise for interrupting your Imperial Majesty," came the disembodied voice of the major-domo, "but I thought it appropriate to remind you that you are due to meet the Head of the Imperial Treasury at noon. That is in an hour’s time."
Was that the time! The heavy curtains together with the grey overcast sky had conspired to maintain the impression that it was still early morning.
"Yes. Thank you for reminding me Petrus. You may go."
Alexander listened to the retreating footsteps, barely audible on the heavy carpets that covered the Imperial Palace. He had slept later than usual, but then again it had been a late night and his sleep had been interrupted a number of times. He looked over at the sleeping form entangled in the silk sheets next to him. It had been another interesting night with Stephanie. He wondered whether, in time, she would cease to amuse him. Certainly she was extremely skilled in bed and not a bad companion either, being quite educated and witty. She was even interested in accounts of his discussions with people like Issac Opus, the treasury minister. Alexander found such meetings boring and tedious, but Stephanie managed to amuse him with her caustic remarks about the collection of ministers that he had inherited from his father when he had become Emperor.
