Table of Contents
Chapter I - Eagles
I - The Empire in the West, 476 - Remus Macrinus
II - Governance in the West, January to June, 476 - Remus and the Deserters
III - Odoacer and the Fall of the Empire in the West, July to September, 476 - Remus hears of Augustulus’ Deposition
IV - Odoacer Establishes His Rule, September to December, 476 - The Flight of Remus
V - Odoacer Versus the Goths I, December 476 to April 477 - Remus meets Selenus
VI - Odoacer Versus the Goths II, April to August, 477 - Remus at Vesuvius
VII - Odoacer Versus the Goths III - the Death of Geiseric, August 477 to February 478 - The Ambush
VIII - Odoacer Versus the Goths IV - Julius Nepos and Glycerius, March to September 478 - “Ego pater sum, et tu filius es”
IX - Odoacer Versus the Goths V, November 478 to March 479 - Nepos in Italia
X - Julius Nepos Gives Battle - Banditry in the South - Odoacer Treats with the Goths, March to July 479 - Remus in Winter
XI - Odoacer Reforms the Army - Nepos Repositions, July to November, 479 - Remus Crosses the Hadriaticum
XII - Nepos is Stalled - Diplomacy, December 479 to March 480 - Remus and the ‘Emperor’
XIII - Nepos Enters the North - and Meets His Fate - Banditry in the South II, April to August, 480 - Remus in Peril
XIV - Odoacer Versus the Burgundians I - Dalmatia Presses On - Banditry in the South III, August to December, 480 - Remus has a Friend
XV - The Glycerian Conspiracy, January to May, 481 - Varic and Markus
- Odoacer Versus the Burgundians II - The Soldiers Revolt, April to December, 481 - Remus, Markus and Selenus journey to the Lucullanum
XVII - Remus and the ‘Emperor’ II
XVIII - Odoacer Treats with the Burgundians - The Revolt of Remus Macrinus, January to April 482
IXX - The Lady Barbaria
XX - Remus Prepares
XXI - Remus Deals with Claudius’ Advance Party
XXII - October 482 - The Battle of the River Calor I
XXIII - October 482 - The Battle of the River Calor II
XXIV - Peace with Ovida - Odoacer’s Difficulties - The Henotikon, October 482 to March 483 - Remus Grows in Strength
XXV - Remus and Tarentum
XXVI - Selenus and Barbaria I
XXVII - August 483 - The Battle of Tusculum I
XXVIII - August 483 - The Battle of Tusculum II
XXIX - August 483 - The Battle of Tusculum III
XXX - The Fall of Rome, August 483 - Remus and Roma
XXXI - The Re-emergence of the West, September to November 483 - The Curia Julia
XXXII - The Domus Augustiana
XXXIII - The Advance of the West, October 483 to January 484 - Loyalty in Winter
XXXIV - Constantinople
XXXV - An Audience in Constantinople
XXXVI - The Battle for the North, January to February, 484 - Remus at Mediolanum
XXXVII - Selenus and Annaeus
XXXVIII - Dealings with the East, March to September, 484 - The Convalescent
XXXIX - The Acacian Schism
XL - Selenus at Ancona
XLI - Claudius ‘Bos’ at Ravenna
Chapter II - The Gallic Campaign
I - Gallia Romanum
II - Journey to Gaul, December, 486 - Remus and the Burgundians I
III - Remus and the Burgundians II
IV - The Walls of Ravenna, February, 487
V - West of Gratianopolis
VI - Remus and the Burgundians III, April, 487
VII - Lugdunum, April, 487 - Remus and the Burgundians IV
VIII - The Sicilian Expedition, April to June, 487 - Selenus and Barbaria II
IX - Escape to Gallia I
X - Escape to Gallia II
XI - The Fall of Ravenna, July, 487
XII - Suomar and Selenus I, July, 487
XIII - August 487 - The Battle for Laudunum
XIV - Remus and Syagrius
XVI - A Letter for Selenus
XVII - Remus in Gaul I, October, 488
XVIII - Remus in Gaul II
XIX - Selenus and the Sicilians I, November, 488
XX - The Goths invade Italy, January, 488
XXI - Remus in Gaul III, February, 489
XXII - Remus Aquila
XXIII – Remus in Gaul IV, March, 489
XXIV - Selenus and the Sicilians II, March, 489
XXV – Claudius faces the Goths, April, 489
XXVI – The Death of Markus
XXVII – Remus in Gaul V
XXIX – Remus at Burdigala, April, 489
XXX – Tarquinius and Avitus I*
XXXI - House Procovinii Tiberianii*
XXXII – The Death of Lucius and it’s aftermath; Saturnius Procovinus*
XXXIII – Suomar and Selenus II, April, 489
XXXIV – Romulus’ Carriage
XXXV – Regulus enters the Senate*
XXXVI – Remus in Gaul VI, May, 489
XXXVII – Romulus greets the Embassy
XXXVIII – Tarquinius and Avitus II*
XXXIX – June to September, 489 - The Assault on Soissons
XL – Remus versus Clovis
XLI – Selenus versues the Vandals I
XLII - Selenus versus the Vandals II
XLIII – Selenus turns to Syracuse, October, 489
XLIV – Selenus prepares for the siege, October, 489
XLV – Genucius Dives
XLVI – Claudius ‘Bos’ and the Goths in Italy, June to December, 489
XLVII – Winter in Rome*
XLVIII – Gaul - The Battle of Soissons I
IL – April 490 – The Battle of Soissons II
L – Reman Legions and Warfare
LI – Regulus and the Barbarian*
LII – Syracuse Under Threat, November, 489 to November, 490
LIII – Suomar arrives at Claudius’ camp
LIV – Romulus is angry
LV – The Burgundians are troublesome
LVI – Titus Orachus*
LVII - Remus and Gundobad
LVIII – Remus and the Burgundians – Bibracte and after, August, 490
LIX – Selenus is Exhausted – Syracuse is Relieved
LX – Summer in Campania*
LXI – Claudius is Dismissed; Suomar is Delighted
LXI – The Lady Barbaria and Genucius Dives
LXII - Gaul, Sicily and Italia, 491
LXIII - Outside the Senate House*
LXIV – Romulus is Piqued – Remus is Cautious
LXV – Remus at Mediolanum
LXVI – Decius is Delighted - Hesta Urges Restraint*
LXVII – Remus and Varic
LVIII – Word Reaches Rome; Hesta is Annoyed*
LXIX – Aquilinus Imperator – Selenus Ponders His Future
LXX – Remus, Suomar and Theodoric in Italia, April to May, 492
LXXI - Remus, Suomar and Theodoric in Italia II, April to May, 492
LXXII – Selenus Reaches Suomar’s Camp
LXXIII – Selenus Faces Down Suomar; the Army is United
LXXIV – Remus Camps Outside Rome; The Senate is manoeuvring
LXXV - Saturnius and the Intruder*
LXXVI - Claudius at Ostia; Encounter with Annaeus
LXXVII - The Uprising at Rome*
LXXVIII - Remus and Hesta Meet; His Army Enters Rome
LXXIX - Regulus and Hesta Discuss Opportunities*
LXXX - Remus Macrinus Enters Rome
Chapter III - Imperator
I - Homecoming
II - Revival in the West - 493
III - The Bishop and the Prefect
IV - Solace and an Encounter
V - Regulus Ponders*
VI - The Rhenus Frontier
VII - Camp Life/The New Empress Dallies*
VIII - Selenus Returns to the Lucallanum
IX - The Danube Frontier
X - Briefings in Mediolanum
XI - A City's Fate/Senator and Priest
Key
Sections in normal type are narrative;
Sections which are italicised are historical;
Sections which are italicised and bold are historical battles;
Sections which are bold and in normal type are narrative battles.
*Authored by Vincent Julien, currently hosted at alternate-history.com. Will require registration to view
Chapter I - Eagles
I - The Empire in the West, 476 - Remus Macrinus
II - Governance in the West, January to June, 476 - Remus and the Deserters
III - Odoacer and the Fall of the Empire in the West, July to September, 476 - Remus hears of Augustulus’ Deposition
IV - Odoacer Establishes His Rule, September to December, 476 - The Flight of Remus
V - Odoacer Versus the Goths I, December 476 to April 477 - Remus meets Selenus
VI - Odoacer Versus the Goths II, April to August, 477 - Remus at Vesuvius
VII - Odoacer Versus the Goths III - the Death of Geiseric, August 477 to February 478 - The Ambush
VIII - Odoacer Versus the Goths IV - Julius Nepos and Glycerius, March to September 478 - “Ego pater sum, et tu filius es”
IX - Odoacer Versus the Goths V, November 478 to March 479 - Nepos in Italia
X - Julius Nepos Gives Battle - Banditry in the South - Odoacer Treats with the Goths, March to July 479 - Remus in Winter
XI - Odoacer Reforms the Army - Nepos Repositions, July to November, 479 - Remus Crosses the Hadriaticum
XII - Nepos is Stalled - Diplomacy, December 479 to March 480 - Remus and the ‘Emperor’
XIII - Nepos Enters the North - and Meets His Fate - Banditry in the South II, April to August, 480 - Remus in Peril
XIV - Odoacer Versus the Burgundians I - Dalmatia Presses On - Banditry in the South III, August to December, 480 - Remus has a Friend
XV - The Glycerian Conspiracy, January to May, 481 - Varic and Markus
- Odoacer Versus the Burgundians II - The Soldiers Revolt, April to December, 481 - Remus, Markus and Selenus journey to the Lucullanum
XVII - Remus and the ‘Emperor’ II
XVIII - Odoacer Treats with the Burgundians - The Revolt of Remus Macrinus, January to April 482
IXX - The Lady Barbaria
XX - Remus Prepares
XXI - Remus Deals with Claudius’ Advance Party
XXII - October 482 - The Battle of the River Calor I
XXIII - October 482 - The Battle of the River Calor II
XXIV - Peace with Ovida - Odoacer’s Difficulties - The Henotikon, October 482 to March 483 - Remus Grows in Strength
XXV - Remus and Tarentum
XXVI - Selenus and Barbaria I
XXVII - August 483 - The Battle of Tusculum I
XXVIII - August 483 - The Battle of Tusculum II
XXIX - August 483 - The Battle of Tusculum III
XXX - The Fall of Rome, August 483 - Remus and Roma
XXXI - The Re-emergence of the West, September to November 483 - The Curia Julia
XXXII - The Domus Augustiana
XXXIII - The Advance of the West, October 483 to January 484 - Loyalty in Winter
XXXIV - Constantinople
XXXV - An Audience in Constantinople
XXXVI - The Battle for the North, January to February, 484 - Remus at Mediolanum
XXXVII - Selenus and Annaeus
XXXVIII - Dealings with the East, March to September, 484 - The Convalescent
XXXIX - The Acacian Schism
XL - Selenus at Ancona
XLI - Claudius ‘Bos’ at Ravenna
Chapter II - The Gallic Campaign
I - Gallia Romanum
II - Journey to Gaul, December, 486 - Remus and the Burgundians I
III - Remus and the Burgundians II
IV - The Walls of Ravenna, February, 487
V - West of Gratianopolis
VI - Remus and the Burgundians III, April, 487
VII - Lugdunum, April, 487 - Remus and the Burgundians IV
VIII - The Sicilian Expedition, April to June, 487 - Selenus and Barbaria II
IX - Escape to Gallia I
X - Escape to Gallia II
XI - The Fall of Ravenna, July, 487
XII - Suomar and Selenus I, July, 487
XIII - August 487 - The Battle for Laudunum
XIV - Remus and Syagrius
XVI - A Letter for Selenus
XVII - Remus in Gaul I, October, 488
XVIII - Remus in Gaul II
XIX - Selenus and the Sicilians I, November, 488
XX - The Goths invade Italy, January, 488
XXI - Remus in Gaul III, February, 489
XXII - Remus Aquila
XXIII – Remus in Gaul IV, March, 489
XXIV - Selenus and the Sicilians II, March, 489
XXV – Claudius faces the Goths, April, 489
XXVI – The Death of Markus
XXVII – Remus in Gaul V
XXIX – Remus at Burdigala, April, 489
XXX – Tarquinius and Avitus I*
XXXI - House Procovinii Tiberianii*
XXXII – The Death of Lucius and it’s aftermath; Saturnius Procovinus*
XXXIII – Suomar and Selenus II, April, 489
XXXIV – Romulus’ Carriage
XXXV – Regulus enters the Senate*
XXXVI – Remus in Gaul VI, May, 489
XXXVII – Romulus greets the Embassy
XXXVIII – Tarquinius and Avitus II*
XXXIX – June to September, 489 - The Assault on Soissons
XL – Remus versus Clovis
XLI – Selenus versues the Vandals I
XLII - Selenus versus the Vandals II
XLIII – Selenus turns to Syracuse, October, 489
XLIV – Selenus prepares for the siege, October, 489
XLV – Genucius Dives
XLVI – Claudius ‘Bos’ and the Goths in Italy, June to December, 489
XLVII – Winter in Rome*
XLVIII – Gaul - The Battle of Soissons I
IL – April 490 – The Battle of Soissons II
L – Reman Legions and Warfare
LI – Regulus and the Barbarian*
LII – Syracuse Under Threat, November, 489 to November, 490
LIII – Suomar arrives at Claudius’ camp
LIV – Romulus is angry
LV – The Burgundians are troublesome
LVI – Titus Orachus*
LVII - Remus and Gundobad
LVIII – Remus and the Burgundians – Bibracte and after, August, 490
LIX – Selenus is Exhausted – Syracuse is Relieved
LX – Summer in Campania*
LXI – Claudius is Dismissed; Suomar is Delighted
LXI – The Lady Barbaria and Genucius Dives
LXII - Gaul, Sicily and Italia, 491
LXIII - Outside the Senate House*
LXIV – Romulus is Piqued – Remus is Cautious
LXV – Remus at Mediolanum
LXVI – Decius is Delighted - Hesta Urges Restraint*
LXVII – Remus and Varic
LVIII – Word Reaches Rome; Hesta is Annoyed*
LXIX – Aquilinus Imperator – Selenus Ponders His Future
LXX – Remus, Suomar and Theodoric in Italia, April to May, 492
LXXI - Remus, Suomar and Theodoric in Italia II, April to May, 492
LXXII – Selenus Reaches Suomar’s Camp
LXXIII – Selenus Faces Down Suomar; the Army is United
LXXIV – Remus Camps Outside Rome; The Senate is manoeuvring
LXXV - Saturnius and the Intruder*
LXXVI - Claudius at Ostia; Encounter with Annaeus
LXXVII - The Uprising at Rome*
LXXVIII - Remus and Hesta Meet; His Army Enters Rome
LXXIX - Regulus and Hesta Discuss Opportunities*
LXXX - Remus Macrinus Enters Rome
Chapter III - Imperator
I - Homecoming
II - Revival in the West - 493
III - The Bishop and the Prefect
IV - Solace and an Encounter
V - Regulus Ponders*
VI - The Rhenus Frontier
VII - Camp Life/The New Empress Dallies*
VIII - Selenus Returns to the Lucallanum
IX - The Danube Frontier
X - Briefings in Mediolanum
XI - A City's Fate/Senator and Priest
Key
Sections in normal type are narrative;
Sections which are italicised are historical;
Sections which are italicised and bold are historical battles;
Sections which are bold and in normal type are narrative battles.
*Authored by Vincent Julien, currently hosted at alternate-history.com. Will require registration to view
Prologue
Fields of Cunetio, 1266 AUC
”Woe to the Imperator should he take his legions there…” Annaeus, The Lay of Remus
The rains were falling steadily now, the distant rumbles of thunder masking the cacophany of battle – screams drowned by raindrops hitting the ground, turning the fields to mud. Percival wiped his forehead, struggling to see what was happening around him. The visibility was worsening and he could scarcely make out what lay in front of him, rings of bodies circling him, some armored house-guards, some Roman comites, their mounts dying beside them. A soldier coughed to his left, hacking away what little life was left to him. Another begged for a mercy that would not come. And beside him, lying stricken on the softening earth, Percival’s commander, an enemy spear protruding from his thigh.
A horse neighed far to his left, and a muffled shout was heard. His hand instinctively gripped his sword. ”Franks, milord.” He moved to stand, but a strong hand gripped his arm, pulling him back down.
”No….don’t trouble yourself. They’re regrouping…though…they’ll be back.” The voice labored for breath, the man behind it dark with dust and blood. His brown hair was grimy and tattered, mirroring his broken body. He spasmed, and jerked up, Percival struggling to hold him down.
”We have to get you out of here!” he begged, his hands grasping the man’s torso, attempting to pry it from the deepening muck. Again the man shook his head. Lightning crashed, and the rains deepened in earnest. All around them, they heard shouts of men searching for them, mixed in with the cries of melee and screams of the wounded.
”Milord!”
”Sir!”
”Appropinquate!”
Swords clanged and crashed in the distance, and he could swear the sounds were nearing. Or was it his nerves?
The commander coughed, and Percival could see the blood. He felt the heaviness in his own chest, and could sense what was to come. Suddenly the man’s hand came up and gripped Percival’s tunic, yanking him downward. ”He’s pressing the center….Claudius…Percival…you must….go…go!” The words dissolved in a fit of coughing. Raindrops splattered over the man’s forehead.
With a furious shake, Percival refused, again trying to pull the man off the ground. ”No…I can’t.” He looked around in vain, trying to find a guardsman or some survivor to help.. ”Gawaine, please…I can’t leave you to…”
The hand smacked his cheek, and he jerked back, shocked at the strength of the blow. His cheek flushed, he turned back to his commander. Gawaine’s eyes were flashing now, and a measure of his old resolve was back. ”I do not command fools! The army….save”. The commander leaned back, his eyes losing their focus, his head slowly drooping back to the ground. With a final inhale, the once proud knight fell into the mud…one last time.
”T-tell Arthur…” The voice was so soft and raspy. Percival leaned down to hear.
”T-tell….the legions…” Percival heard no more.
* * *
They identified him by his tunic, the yellow eagle barely showing under a cake of dirt. The skies had cleared, leaving only a gray blanket of clouds. Bare strands of grass were the only reminders of the once-green fields, which were now covered with the debris of war. Claudius approached, scrutinizing the field around him with their blanket of bodies.
”Mud’s too thick for cavalry, Praefectus,” his aide remarked. Claudius nodded absently at the comment. The Britons were too far away anyways for pursuit. He had an army to pull together. He sighed and studied the area. The highest point on the rise…right where I would be if it were I leading.
”Send for the medicus. See that he’s handled with honors,” he said, gesturing to the body of the enemy commander. As his aide saluted and rode off, Claudius stared into the lifeless eyes of the man, this Gawaine, and held them for a moment. What manner of man were you, he wondered idly. It was a question he had asked many times of late, and it never ceased to trouble him. As if becoming aware of his surroundings, Claudius scowled and kicked his horse, his cloak flapping in the wind.
- Title picture 'Roman Solider' by Daniel Zollinger at www.danzollinger.com
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