The major new storyline added in the TV show which did not exist in the books are the Imperial clones. However they do fit in with the story's overall thematic arch. Many people know that Asimov was inspired to write Foundation after reading about the decline and fall of the Roman empire, well there is an actual part of Roman history that fits neatly with the Imperial clones!
One interesting thing about the Western Roman Empire, which lasted from 27 BCE all the way to 476 CE, was that it should have fallen in the mid 200s at the height of what's called the "Crisis of the Third Century". By the year 271, the Roman Empire was fragmented into 3 pieces, and beset with economic challenges and increasing raids from surrounding "barbarians" (Anacreon basically). Most empires would have folded by this point, yet somehow Rome put itself back together and soldiered on for another 200 years.
How did this happen? Well short story is that eventually this badass called Aurelian, arguably the greatest of all Roman emperors, took power and in 5 years he managed to piece the empire back together, but perhaps luckily, he got assassinated and eventually another guy called Diocletian took power. I say luckily because Aurelian was a great general, but Diocletian, while also a general, was a better administrator.
What was Diocletian's vision to stabilize Rome? He created the tetrachy. He realized that the empire was no longer in its heyday. Once upon a time Rome was so strong that its capital city didn't even have major defensive walls and an emperor like Hadrian could just dip and spent 10 plus years on the road touring the empire yet the empire remained stable and strong. Not anymore, as there are now severe internal and external problems plaguing the empire.
What Diocletian came up with is to divide the empire in half, East and West, and rule each half with two emperors, a senior emperor called Augustus, and a junior emperor called Caesar. This lets you simultaneously solved both the internal and external threats to both halves of the empire. You can have 2 emperors at the eastern and western capitols (Rome and Nicomedia, later it would be Milan and Constantinople), and also 2 emperors with the troops on the western and eastern frontiers. The plan was every 10 years, the two Augustus will retire, the 2 Caesars get promoted to Augustus, and they each find capable leaders to be the new Caesars.
So in Diocletian's perfect world,
... keep reading on reddit ➡
It's been a while since I posted one of these, but I'm back with my biggest sale yet. As always, all coins are cleaned, identified, and described to the best of my ability. I will accept reasonable offers and I'll discount purchases of multiple coins. I personally guarantee the authenticity of every coin seen here: If you can reasonably prove to me that I sent you a fake, I'll refund you in full.
CONSTANTINE AND SONS
- Constantine I, VOT XX in wreath, Siscia Mint. Remnant silvering. gXF $33.
- Constantine I, GLORIA EXERCITVS, Constantinople mint. Rarer single-soldier AE2 design, encrustations. gVF $30
- Constantine I, VOT XX in wreath, Heraclea Mint. Some reverse weakness. VF $18
- Constantine I, GLORIA EXERCITVS, Antioch Mint. Glossy black patina, some encrustations. aXF $18
- Constantine I, GLORIA EXERCITVS, Siscia Mint. Clear portrait. XF $22
- Constantine I, GLORIA EXERCITVS, Cyzicus Mint. Interesting overclipped planchet on two sides. Worn dies. gXF $28
- Constantine I, PROVIDENTIAE AVGG, Siscia Mint. Surfaces are rough. aVF $12
- Constantine I, VOT XX in wreath, Thessalonica Mint. Rough, but good strike. A nice starter piece. F $8
VRBS ROMA commemorative, She-wolf and twins, Cyzicus mint. VF+ $30SOLD- VRBS ROMA commemorative, She-wolf and twins, unknown mint. AE4 variety. F $12
- Constans, FEL TEMP REPARATIO, phoenix on mound, Siscia Mint. Some rough spots, otherwise glossy XF $36
- Constans, FEL TEMP REPARATIO, emperor on ship, Siscia Mint. Glossy gunmetal patina. aVF $20
Crispus, VIRTVS EXERCIT, VOT X on banner between seated captives. Aquileia mint. Rough edges, beautiful silvery patina. gVF $20SOLD- Crispus, VIRTVS EXERCIT, VOT XX on banner between captives. Trier mint. Remnant silvering. $15
- Constantine II, VOT X in wreath, Siscia mint. Nice green patina, slightly overcleaned. Small flan crack. aXF. $15
- [Constantine II, GLORIA EXERCITVS, Antioch mint. A pleasant little coin with no major flaws. gVF](htt
Could a power sharing system along the lines of the tetrarchy (the system instituted by diocletian with 2 emperors, each with their own co-emperor, managing their own portions of the empire) have succeeded in the Roman empire, and if not, why? I'm assuming that the instability at the time of the crisis of the third century was, part of the problem, so if we assume it was instituted early, say by Augustus or Tiberius, so that we didn't have the crisis going on in the background and whilst imperial succession was still being worked out.
Thanks in advance?
Looking back at our old friend Diocletian and the Tetrarchs, you cannot help but notice how alienating they are of the Roman people.
Firstly, we get the four new capitals, Medialonum, Trier, Sirmium, and Nicomedia. Now despite these being strong popular cities, the Tetrarchs dont really enhance their cities all that much. They didnt fill it with baths, forums, circuses, libraries, etc...
Yes, you have the baths of Diocletian in Rome, but where was all this nice construction in the other cities? What about the holidays? It seems like these emperors were so busy with war that they ignored the holidays.
Even Aurelian, when he was in Rome, threw splendid triumphs and celebrated the holidays with the senate and people.
Scotland= Caledonia
France= Constantinus Rome
Italy= Maxentius Rome
Germany= Germania
Hungary= Carpathian People
Lithuania= Balts
Romania= Dacia
Yugoslavia= Licinius Rome
Turkey= Maximinus Rome
Ukraine= Sarmatians
Soviet Union= Slavs
Iran= Persian Empire
Finland= Unclaimed Land
https://preview.redd.it/qvoc6qvftgx51.png?width=1160&format=png&auto=webp&s=7d1abf59330b9bc89445653fe4ae0d40baad4784
Would new laws issued by an emperor be valid only in his part of the empire? If that the case what happened to the jurisprudence when the empire was once again ruled by only one emperor (like Constantine or Theodosius)?
I am looking for some reading material on the times of the illyrian Emperors (Claudius Gothicus, Aurelian, Probus and Diocletian) and the time of the first Tetrarchy, any recommendations?
