LouisJoseph
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What would have happened if Majorian wasn't deposed and killed? Would the Roman Empire have lasted longer?
Majorian
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Since Maiorianus' Big Scheme for Reconquering Africa came a good deal before his little falling out with Ricimerus, I can't see why that'd be the case. At that point, the WRE realistically needed an influx of external cash and troops. Not coincidentally, the two times that the Western Emperors got them (both under the reign of Anthemius - in 468 with the grand combined offensive with the ERE that failed due to a freak wind, and in 471 with the attempt by Anthemiolus to link up with Riothamus in Gaul to defeat the Visigoths), it came pretty close to reestablishing dominance.
I think it's safe to say that if any of the three major attempts to shore up the WRE's position had succeeded, it probably would've lasted longer. I'm actually writing an alternate history timeline on that premise (Anthemius' 468 expedition succeeds) in the NES forum's alternate history thread, but it's on hold because I'm doing something else for Kraznaya, which in turn is on hold because I'm stuck on figuring out how to make a religion while at the same time busy because of class.
I think it's safe to say that if any of the three major attempts to shore up the WRE's position had succeeded, it probably would've lasted longer. I'm actually writing an alternate history timeline on that premise (Anthemius' 468 expedition succeeds) in the NES forum's alternate history thread, but it's on hold because I'm doing something else for Kraznaya, which in turn is on hold because I'm stuck on figuring out how to make a religion while at the same time busy because of class.
Phrossack
Armored Fish and Armored Men
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Making a religion? Could it be a mix of Tengriism and Zoroastrianism? That'd be awesome.
It's actually more like a rejiggered Orphism plus my mediocre understanding of Neoplatonism and with a version of Athena in the starring role
i.e. "exactly what you'd expect out of Dachs"
anyway
I find it extremely interesting that more has historically been made of Maiorianus' expedition than those of Anthemius, despite Anthemius having had significantly better chances of success (since he rested his power on the resources of the ERE in addition to his own, limiting the damage that could be done to him by the factional interests of the Western Empire; he also, of course, had more men and ships, and had a better crossing point than did Maiorianus). This has been somewhat redressed in recent years with Peter Heather in particular making a big deal about the 468 expedition, but few historians seem interesting in discussing the Riothamus/Anthemiolus campaign in 471 that came close to subduing Evareiks' Visigoths (and thus, the route to Iberia, whence a further campaign against Africa could be mounted).
Both Maiorianus and Anthemius made good progress partially due to their ability to successfully conciliate Gallic and Italian factions, interestingly; the cornerstone of Maiorianus' Iberian campaign came at a meeting in Lugdunum with much of the Gallic army officers and aristocracy, where he reaffirmed the imperial commitment to the region, distributed offices, and was feted by Sidonius Apollinaris (Sidonius would even have had a bone to pick with him, since Maiorianus had disposed of the previous emperor, Avitus II, Sidonius' father-in-law, but apparently this never came up); Anthemius made similar overtures, secured Evareiks' support, and used him and other field troops in campaigns against the Suebi as part of his grand Vandal offensive in 468. (Anthemius' Gallic connections started to fray in 469, at the trial of Arvandus, a Gallic magistrate who'd apparently been meditating treason; the occasion also forced Sidonius, who was by that time prefect of Rome and thus legally responsible to hand down a sentence to Arvandus, who was inconveniently his buddy, to skip town. Evareiks' 470-1 heel turn is certainly related to this, and in turn Anthemius sought other Gallic allies, namely Riothamus, and the ability to back them up, namely his son's army.)
i.e. "exactly what you'd expect out of Dachs"
anyway
I find it extremely interesting that more has historically been made of Maiorianus' expedition than those of Anthemius, despite Anthemius having had significantly better chances of success (since he rested his power on the resources of the ERE in addition to his own, limiting the damage that could be done to him by the factional interests of the Western Empire; he also, of course, had more men and ships, and had a better crossing point than did Maiorianus). This has been somewhat redressed in recent years with Peter Heather in particular making a big deal about the 468 expedition, but few historians seem interesting in discussing the Riothamus/Anthemiolus campaign in 471 that came close to subduing Evareiks' Visigoths (and thus, the route to Iberia, whence a further campaign against Africa could be mounted).
Both Maiorianus and Anthemius made good progress partially due to their ability to successfully conciliate Gallic and Italian factions, interestingly; the cornerstone of Maiorianus' Iberian campaign came at a meeting in Lugdunum with much of the Gallic army officers and aristocracy, where he reaffirmed the imperial commitment to the region, distributed offices, and was feted by Sidonius Apollinaris (Sidonius would even have had a bone to pick with him, since Maiorianus had disposed of the previous emperor, Avitus II, Sidonius' father-in-law, but apparently this never came up); Anthemius made similar overtures, secured Evareiks' support, and used him and other field troops in campaigns against the Suebi as part of his grand Vandal offensive in 468. (Anthemius' Gallic connections started to fray in 469, at the trial of Arvandus, a Gallic magistrate who'd apparently been meditating treason; the occasion also forced Sidonius, who was by that time prefect of Rome and thus legally responsible to hand down a sentence to Arvandus, who was inconveniently his buddy, to skip town. Evareiks' 470-1 heel turn is certainly related to this, and in turn Anthemius sought other Gallic allies, namely Riothamus, and the ability to back them up, namely his son's army.)
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