Marius Celander, Emperor of Rome

The Emperors of the Restored Western Empire

THE LATER COLIAN DYNASTY (530 AD TO 611 AD)

Julius Nepos, Emperor from (before) 530 to 560.

Livia: married to the Campanian duke.
Apotaxos: prince of the realm. Died AD 574.
Minerva: married to the Castillian duke in 546.
Athena: married to the Valencian duke in 560.
Malia: married to the Populani duke in 560.

Mauricius, son of Julius Nepos, born ?, emperor from 560 to 589. Married a Lombard princess. Murdered by an assassin in the employ of the bankers Petrocelli and Carmona.

Hecate: married to the Wilzian duke of Sueves in 570.
Hera: married to the Wilzian duke of Leon in 570.
Venus: married to the Wilzian duke of Vallei in 570.
Heraclius: Born 556, married to Suevan princess in 587. Prince-Regent in AD 594. Emperor in AD 610.
Caesarion: Born 558, married to Galacian princess in 589. Died (?).
Octavian: Born 560, married to Leoni princess. Died 595(?).

Aemillus, son of Mauricius, born ?, emperor from 589 to 610. Married to an Araik (WhiteStorm) princess. Retired from the Purple in 610. Died in 611 of the pox.

Claudia: Born 580. Married to the Alamandan duke in 597.

Heraclius, son of Mauricius, born 556, emperor from 610 to 611. Died of the pox, leaving no direct heirs. The end of the Colian male line.

THE NISIAN EMPERORS (614 AD TO … )

Maurice of Nisae, Emperor from 614 to 620. Murdered by Vandal assassins.

Methodius: Born 610. Emperor with a regency in 620.
Atreus: Born 615. Prince in 630. Died in 637 of the Larissan plague.

Methodius Nisia, son of Maurice, born 610, emperor from 620 to (?). Married to a Lombard princess. Died waiting for his lunch in 654.

Vipisana Agrippina: Born 625. Twin of Julia Drusilla. Died 637 of the Larissan plague.
Julia Drusilla: Born 625. Twin of Vipisana Agrippina. Died 637 of the Larissan plague.
Claudius Drusus: Born 628. Emperor in 655.
Marcus Galerius: Born 629. Prince in 645. Married to Leta of Genova in 653.

Claudius Drusus, son of Methodius Nisia, born 628, crown prince in 643. Married to a Lombard princess, Aemilla, in 642. Emperor in 655. Died in 674 in the throes of passion.

Hadrian Methodius: Born 643. Caesar (crown prince) in 658.
Potinia: Born 644. Married to Aurelian of Lombardy in 660.
Kristina: born 674. Twin of Anastasia. Married to Sextus of Liguria in 695.
Anastasia: born 674. Twin of Kristina.

Aurelian of Lombardy, prince (Caesar) by marriage to the lady Potina (daughter of Emperor Claudius Drusus) in 660, born in 618. Died in 668.
Sextus of Liguria; prince (Caesar) by married to the lady Kristina (daughter of Emperor Claudius Drusus) in 695, born in 651.

Hadrian Methodius, son of Claudius Drusus, born in 643, crown prince in 658, Emperor in 674. Died in 699 by unknown means.

Marius Celander: Born 678. Promoted to prince in 695, crown prince in 699.
Rabekah: born 694, died 696.

Marius Celander, son of Hadrian Methodius. Caesar (crown prince) in 699. Emperor in 700.

Rabekah (II), born in 697. Named after her aunt, who died in 696.
Marcus Claudius, born in 697.

Historia Romanorum

671-675 AD

After long soul searching, Claudius decides not to pick on the Franks and overrun the independent provinces of southern Gaul. He is growing old and lacks the stamina he once had. Instead he oversees the continued economic expansion of the Empire and sees if he can begat some more children to frolick in the royal pastures. While in bed one evening during a sexual episode, Claudius freezes in mid stroke. Mortified with horror, Aemilla, runs down the hall, buck naked screaming that the devil has froze the emperor. She becomes a bumbling idiot and only slovenly gibbers on occasion now.

Hadrianus shuffles a great deal coin and later takes his position among the S.P.Q.R as Emperor. The cities of Rome, Neoplis, Genova, Exarch, Pisae, and Venetia expand. Funds are sent to the nascent Papacy to help defray the costs.

The body of Prince Aurelian is sent, with heavy heart, back to Rome for burial in the family tombs. Then Legate's Marielinius Cato and Olivares resume their campaign against the heretics in northern Hispaña. The Salamancans are crushed as well as militarily converted to Roman Catholicism.

Prince Marcus and Gracchus Vespa go south to conduct negotiations amongst the Ligurians, while Admiral Nero continues his coastal patrol versus pirates.

The assassin, Draxx, is spotted in a tavern in Rome. Authorities are unable to detain him to question him.

676-680 AD

Hadrianus rails against fickleness of God. Inquiries are made into where, exactly, this Pope fellow has gotten to. An invitation to dinner is sent to the Vandal, Draxx, in hopes that he may make his acquaintance. Men are recruited into the legion. The cities of Neopolis, Genova, and Pisae all pop up a point. Campania gets some new vineyards. Hadrianus marries a local woman who follows the Pope. The emperor is given an heir. Trade is opened in the east with the ZCR.

"Rome is friend of all!" the emperor states.

Marielinus Cato joins Legate Olivares in a trip through the barren western Hispañian provinces. They attempt to convince the hard-scrabble tribes of those lands to join the Empire. Battle will be avoided for the moment, until which time a tribal leader strikes a quick knife across Cato's throat. Olivares reacts to push Cato out of the way. The knife strike only glances off Cato's chest. A mere flesh wound. However, it is enough to start the legionnaire's into combat-ready mode. Olivares wipes the blood of the tribal leader off his sword as the rest of the troops pound Estremadura into submission.

Meanwhile, Gacchus Vespa joins Marcus Galerius, and the Ligurian Prince in a trip to woo the Lyonnais to Roman allegiance.

Marcus Galerius joins the Ligurian prince in a little trip to sample the wines and cheeses of the upper Rhone Valley.

"Ah, the beauty of the countryside!" the prince exhales.

He inquires about the possibility of finding a suitable husband for Princess Anastasia when she comes of age.

The Ligurian prince takes a little trip over the mountains into Lyonnais where the friendship of Rome is offered to the locals. "Wouldn't that just make the Franks steam," the lanky fellow thinks to himself.

The prince from Aragon remains in the sunny south watching the southern frontier of Hispañia for Vandal raiders and other malcontents.

In some bad news, Admiral Nero is found dead on the wharf near Rome. He has six knife wounds in his back. He is ensconced in a tomb near the royal court that is placed in his honor.

681-685 AD

Hadrianus celebrates the birth of his son, Marius Celander, with a great festival in Rome. A new regiment (cohort) of heavy cavalry is raised - The Companions. The Imperial spymaster, Anacrites, is set on the track of the "dead" BL - what he discovers is a state secret. Showing a gracious and firm relationship with the Franks, the Emperor grants control of the region of Lyonnais to the Frankish Realm. The Spanish province of Estremadura (inadvertently conquered by the ever-victorious legions) is made a protectorate province. The spiritual ascendancy of the Church of Christ is proclaimed and the Emperor issues edicts (posted throughout the Empire) stating that the Empire will follow the Church in matters of faith and spirit. Secular law, however, remains in Imperial hands.

Marius Celander, the young scamp crawls, then walks, then runs around the palace. "Waaah!"

Cato makes his way, in a litter, back to Toledo, which flips to friendly, and open negotiations with the Castillans.

Gacchus Vespa fakes his own death in Lyonnais - a hunting accident and a fall into a a raging river-before returning to Rome. There, he takes up cautious residence as a Gothic merchant, one Pindarus. His task - on the face of it, simple - is to discover the miscreants that arranged the death of Admiral Nero and to discover the threat against the State. While hauling cartons onto a galley, Gacchus slips on the wet, wooden dock. The carton lets loose and sails through the air, crashing into a stack of other cartons that ends up falling onto the lieutenant. The weight of the crash actually does kill Gacchus this time. Can't fake this one.

The Vandal Incursion

Legate Olivares continues his campaign in Spain (which is mainly on the plain, you know), with the conquest of the Arianists in Portugal and their submission to the Cross. Marcus Galerius leaves Lyonnais to catch up with Olivares and hang with him on his campaign about western Hispañia. Little did they know that Vandal camps had taken over a good portion of the countryside in Portugal. As the legions, 42,000 strong, prepare their attack, the Vandal garrison takes advantage of the terrain, defending behind River Cuadiana and the mountain passes. A few Romans are picked off before they launch their pila and get stuck in swinging their swords. 12,000 Vandal soldiers lose their lives defending the territory. The Roman legion overwhelms the Vandal contingent and assumes control of the region. It is then militarily converted to Roman Catholic. Convinced the Vandals have gone away and the countryside subjugated, Olivares and Marcus move to Valencia for some much needed rest and recreation.

The Prince of Liguria visits the Swiss and sees if they'll accept the Church of Christ. He has little or no success.

Lastly, Roman trade ships are denied again at the port of Anitoch.

686-690 AD

(Records Lost in the Religious Troubles)

691-695 AD

Hadrianus is nearly despondent with the ruin that has come of a simple religious issue. Still, there is nothing to do but fight on! He hands off the Legions to Marius, and resumes direct administration of the Empire. He sends letters to the banks, urging them to allow an extension. They will be paid in full, but the political crisis is paramount.

The banks empathize with the Emperor’s position, because everyone is going hungry these days with such a diminshed economy. No henchmen have been summoned yet. But, they urge the Emperor to get his courtiers in order.

Prince Marius must now rise to face the most deadly peril to Rome in centuries — to each province in Italia he does and to each regional lord he offers the alliance and friendship of Rome (without requiring a religious commitment or change) if they resume their loyaly. If not, he crushes them as Spoleto finds out first hand.

Martian Parus replaces the criminal Suetonius, who rots in jail.

The Long March

Sextus finds himself very far from home, behind enemy lines, and with only paltry forces at his command. But he is a clever fellow and he misses his wife, so off he goes... The garrison of the new forts in Galacia is evacuated and then Leon. Those provinces are left to fend for themselves. Both revolt for neutrality. Sextus then marches his men over the mountians into New Castille, where he makes an effort to gain renewed allegiance of the locals — or at least supplies from them! While there he interrupts Gaius’ diplomacy and minimizes the Aragonese attempt. After this, things get more troublesome. Since New Castille did not join New Rome, Sextus takes a really long walk home. However, trying to hide an army of 11,000 is tough to do. Considering taking Valencia, Sextus keeps moving through after seeing a garrison in the region. However, is Catalonia, the Aragonese garrison spots the troublemaker and attempts to detain the Roman Prince. A fight breaks out in the fields of Catalonia. Farmers can not determine which is being spilt more, blood or wine. When it is all said and done, Sextus emerges victorious over the 3500 strong garrison. He holes up along the French border in the Pyrenees mountains.

Hadrianus dies sometime (unreported) during this period. Prince Marius is acclaimed as Emperor.

700-704 AD

Emperor Marius continues his campaign in the southern provinces, bending his whole will to bringing Campania, Calabria and Sicily back under Roman rule. While stopping in Rome to entrust the VI Legio to Gaius Pompey, Marius pays off the bankers and adds the extra late fee to sweeten their sour countenances. “The Empire always pays its debts; be they gold or honor.”

Lt. Martian Parus spends his time in the northlands, wooing the princes and dux of the Po valley and the coast. The Empire will be resurgent!

The Fighting in Valencia ~ Roman Version

Lt. Gaius embarks the newly formed VI Legio Hispana and takes ship to Spain. He lands in Catalonia, in areas secured by Sextus, and then marches south into Valencia to reclaim the Roman city of Saguntum and the military colonia there. Expecting some resistence from the Aragonese, Gaius can not imagine the resolve that the Catholics have. Intense fighting over the course of about a week to ten days breaks the Roman morale. They retreat into Catalonia.

The Fighting in Valencia ~ Aragonese Version

Prince Beldrih of Aragon raises a mercenary army near Saguntum in order to defend the region. Saguntum defenses are set and then prepared to react if need be. Prince Beldrih’s precient vision is just a bit off, instead of fighting Sextus of Rome, he ends up battling Gauis Pompey of Rome. The Romans invade Valencia from Catalonia (their base camp) with 3500 various cavalry units and 6000 assorted legionaires. 10,000 Aragonese mercenaries are encamped ready to defend the kingdom. In the rolling hills of Valencia, fierce battles take place with very few men returning home to their mothers, wives and children. Infact, only 500 Romans make it back to Catalonia to regroup; they send a messanger to Rome for reinforcements. Additionally, only 2000 Aragonese live to fight another day.

The Auld Castillians raid the Aragonese rebel homeland and try to do so to New Castille, but are met by the wedding party army and are turned back.