Chapter IX: Borders of the Empire

„Poor old ship, the sailors left you to the pirates.“ – Gerontius

Emerita Augusta, capital of Lusitania and close to the last legions in southern Hispania, received in the spring of 412 AD apocalyptical news: Several ships got attacked near Olisipo by Germanic pirates. It is not clear who exactly did it, if it were the Saxons or Franks than it would mean that they came as south as never before, if it were the Vandals than not even the Atlantic coast would be safe from them anymore. What matters is that Lusitania is now not anymore a relatively peaceful place in this sea of war. Several years ago Alaric troops crossed the mountains in the north but they moved back to Gallia as they destroyed Mallius’ empire. Especially Lusitania and its capital Emerita stayed pretty unharmed during this campaign but now Hispania is nearly without defence. Honorius moved the most legions to Africa, where they got destroyed, and only a few troops stayed on the peninsula.

Gerontius, Comes of the Hispanian legions, used the insecurity and the rumours in the city of Emerita to claim for himself to be the protector of the local Roman population from all foreign powers, including the emperor in Arelate. His inspiration was probably Constantinus, the Roman emperor of Britannia, who stayed on the island and secured it instead of getting drawn into the conflicts of the mainland. Also Postumus’ Gallic Empire, of the third century, could have been an example of an independent but still Roman state and even the Germanic ruler, which dominate the collapsing empire now, act like independent kings in their territory. The next logical step for a Roman general could only be to grab land from the empire before the barbarians do. Not that Gerontius would have hated Germanics – he had many foreign soldiers in his troops – no, he just didn’t believe that they could be leaders of some civilized state. The current empire under Honorius was for him nothing but an old sinking Gothic ship, which was once made by Romans and still sails under the builder’s flag.

Filigund, king of the Silingi and Alani, was the first to call Gerontius, Rex Hispanorum. Gerontius himself claimed to be emperor, even if the title of a king would have been more appropriated. He would of course not deny the rule over the whole Roman world, if it would fall into his hands, but he is smart enough to know that the time of the great empires is over, at least in the west. On his coins he appears with the title of the Restorer of Hispania - more a plan for the future, than an achievement - but still a pleasant title for the ruler of the peninsula. Nevertheless around the whole Mediterranean he was soon known as the King who is Roman but still is fighting the empire. The novelty was not, that he fought the empire but that he was Roman. That barbarians broke free from Rome, like Alaric did or Gainas, was nothing new, but that a Roman general would do that, didn’t happen for 150 years and was already forgotten for the most people. Constantinus in Britannia was no shock for the Romans, he still claimed to rule the whole empire, but Gerontius was for only claiming a part. He was a sign of the decline of the west.

Alaric, King of the Goths and Magister Militum, died in the winter of 413. The Goths thought Alaric’s successor, Odo, would be granted the title of the Magister Militum but empress Flavia was able to convince Honorius to proclaim Asterius, leader of the Italian troops, new general of the west. With this decision Flavia was planning to reduce the German influence in the empire and even succeeded in some way with it; Odo broke with Rome. The Second Gothic War begun.

Asterius moved the emperor’s court back to Mediolanum and begun to concentrate his troops in the Rhone Valley. Further to the north-west Odo united his forces with the ones of Filigund in the meantime. The King was also in contact with the leaders of the Franks, which stayed officially on Rome’s side but actually acted neutral in the war and didn’t attack the Goths. The Burgundians on the other side were sending troops to Asterius, they formed together with Hunnish and Alemannian forces the backbone of the Roman army.

As the first snow fell in the year 413 the Western Empire was already collapsing: Hispania and Gallia are in revolt, Africa is free from Roman forces, Britannia is de facto independent and Dalmatia is ruled by the East. Honorius, Arcadius, Flavia, Asterius Odo, Geiseric, Filigund, Gerontius; all of them decide over the fate of the Roman world.

Map 

The Western and parts of the Eastern Roman Empire in 413 AD.

Red=Western Empire; Striped/Outline=other foederati

Purple=Eastern Empire; Striped=foederati
Brown=Vandals

Green=Hispanian Empire
Blue=Gothic Empire
Magenta=Britannian Empire
Yellow=Gepids