200 CE: Septimius Severus in Rome. He attempts to have himself proclaimed sole Emperor. The Senate refuses. Septimius Severus disbands the Senate. Clodius Albinus crosses the Rubicon to deal with Severus. Clodius Albinus enters Rome and forces Severus to retreat to Hispania. Clodius Albinus restores the Senate, embraces the Republican party and vows to restore Rome to a Republican system.



201 CE: Alexandros III refuses to accept Albinus's Republican vision. He proclaims: "Republics are not meant to rule over vast territories. The world can only be ruled by military Emperors and their armies. The army is the state and the Emperor is the head of the army." Alexandros III begins to assemble the armies of the Eastern clients to march against Albinus.



202 CE: Clodius Albinus narrowly defeats Septimius Severus near Massilia. Severus decides to retreat into Hispania.



203 CE: A Severan army under Quintus Afranius, the hereditary governor of Tarraconensis is defeated near Emporion. Clodius Albinus besieges Ilerda. Alexandros III lands near Tarentum with a huge Eastern army. He begins his march towards Rome.



204 CE: Clodius Albinus abandons the siege of Ilerda. His army is forced to march East in order to deal with Alexandros III. Alexandros III enters Rome. He proclaims before the Senate: "There is no Empire without the Army. Our State is the Army. We shall make that clear to everyone who would deny it." Beginning of his military reforms, further shift to a profoundly militarized Roman state. Alexandros III rededicates Rome to Sol Invictus and Mithra.



205 CE: The Battle of the Rubicon. Seeing the vast Eastern army arrayed against him, Clodius Albinus famously proclaims before the battle, in immitation of Caesar: "Alea iacta est." The Republicans under Clodius Albinus are narrowly defeated by Alexandros III's superior numbers after a heroic stand against all odds. The general Lucius Artorius, the bastard son of Abgar IX of Osroene is instrumental to Alexandros's victory. Leading the client Sarmatian cavalry he routs the Republican left flank and nearly captures Clodius Albinus. Clodius Albinus and the remnants of his army retreat into Gallia.



206 CE: The Battle of Lugdunum. Alexandros III defeats the Republicans, Clodius Albinus executes a masterful fighting retreat and manages to escape to the North.



207 CE: Alexandros III forced to turn South to deal with Severus who is marching unopposed into Narbonensis. He sends an army mainly composed of Sarmatian and Dacian troops under Lucius Artorius to Britannia to deal with Clodius Albinus.



208 CE: 2nd Battle of Massilia. Alexandros III wins a pyrrhic victory over Severus. Septimius Severus retreats towards Narbo. Lucius Artorius defeats Clodius Albinus outside Londinium. The Republican center refuses to surrender and makes a legendary last stand under the SPQR banner. They are overwhelmed by the Sarmatian cavalry. Clodius Albinus is killed grasping the banner. Sarmatian cavalrymen ride over his body repeatedly, trampling it into an unrecognizable shape. Lucius Artorius intervenes and puts an end to it. He orders an imperial funeral for Clodius Albinus declaring: "He was the last of the Romans." The remains of Clodius Albinus are cremated in the ancient Roman fashion, alongside his SPQR banner.



In Persia the death of Vologases V sparks the War of The Princes. His sons Vologases VI and Artabanus IV battle for power. In Estakhr, the Sassanid Ardashir I rebels.



209 CE: Lucius Artorius and his Sarmato-Dacian army campaigns in Britannia. He takes Eburacum from the rebels. Alexandros III and Septimius Severus fight an indecisive battle outside Narbo. Quintus Afranius wounds and nearly captures Alexandros III during the battle.



210 CE: Lucius Artorius campaigns against the Caledoni. He defeats the Caledoni in a great Battle South of the Wall. His Sarmatian cavalrymen sacrifice the Caledonian King Circennos to a Sword of Victory dedicated to the God of War. The Sword is thrust in the ground through the beating heart of the tied King. The Sarmatians present Lucius Artorius with the Sword of Victory. Lucius Artorius's legendary campaign beyond the Wall begins.



Septimius Severus and Alexandros III negotiate an agreement. Septimius Severus hailed as Emperor of Hispania renouncing all claims on the Empire proper. The wounded Alexandros III retreats to Rome.



211 CE: Legendary Expedition of Lucius Artorius beyond the wall. Caledonia is ravaged. Ardashir I expands his power in Persia.



212 CE: Lucius Artorius confirmed as Supreme Military Governor of Britannia. In order to assert complete control over the region Alexandros III begins a vast policy of Sarmatian and Dacian colonization in Britannia. Military colonies are established throughout the Island.



213 CE: Septimius Severus dies. He is succeeded by his sons Caracalla and Geta as co-Emperors of Hispania. On his deathbed he tells his sons: "Be harmonious, make sure to enrich the soldiers, and scorn all other men." Caracalla rules over Eastern Hispania and Geta over the Western part of the peninsula.



215 CE: The reforms of Alexandros III continue. All men serving in the Roman Army, including citizens of Roman client states are given Roman citizenship. Vachagan I becomes king of Caucasian Albania. Alexandros III sends a large fleet and army under the command of his son Lucius to Southern Erythrea in a bid to establish control over the Red Sea and Indian Ocean trade routes. The province of Erythrea Adalia is founded and a large Roman military presence dispatched to the region, spearheaded by the reformed Legio X Fretensis.



216 CE: Seeking to capitalize on Parthian weakness Alexandros III campaigns in the East. He is grievously wounded in battle near Nisibis while leading a cavalry charge to save surrounded elements of his light cavalry. Alexandros III lingers on for 3 days. Before his death he addresses his army telling his soldiers: "You are all my true children, and the Empire is yours, see that you do not squander it!" In spite of his prohibition against it his army acclaims him as Megas Alexandros before his death. Alexandros III dies with the chants of Megas Alexandros in his ears. His son Alexandros IV proclaimed Emperor.



217 CE: Alexandros IV campaigns against the Parthians. Sabellianism gains many addherents among the Christians. Sabellius argues that God is only One indivisible person, with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit being nothing but outward manifestations of Him in the way he revealed Himself to Man. In recognition of his great services, Alexandros IV appoints Lucius Artorius as hereditary military Governor of Britannia.



218 CE: Alexandros IV defeats Artabanus IV outside Ctesiphon. A peace treaty is signed, Alexandros IV marries the daughter of Artabanus IV in a grand ceremony in Ctesiphon. After the end of the festitivites, as the Sun rises, Alexandros IV orders the Parthian King and many Parthian nobles, including his wife sacrified to Sol Invictus. He proclaims: "I am the God come in the flesh!" The Massacre of Ctesiphon allows Vologases VI to become sole Parthian King of Kings. Alexandros IV begins the Roman Imperial practice of considering the Emperor to be "Sol Invictus in the flesh".



219 CE: Alexandros IV campaigns against Vologases VI but loses interest in chasing the Parthian King of Kings East. He retires West.



220 CE: Alexandros IV in Rome. His marriage to the Vestal virgin Aquilia Severa, claiming that their children would be "godlike on both sides of the family" causes outrage. Ardashir I campaigns against Vologases I.



221 CE: A great Black meteorite is brought to Rome and considered to be the Sacred Earthly heart of Sol by Alexandros IV, a great Temple to it is dedicated on the Palatine Hill. Continuation of policies persecuting Christians in favor of the cult of Sol Invictus.



222 CE: Three Kingdoms period in Helleno-China. Upon the death of the Reigning Empress Alexandra III, the Empire is divided between her three sons.



224 CE: Vologases VI defeated at the battle of Hormizdegan by Ardashir I. He kneels before Ardashir I and accepts him as Overlord and King of Kings.



226 CE: Ardashir I accepts the submission of the Satraps in a great ceremony in Estakhr. He is crowned King of Kings. Philotas XV, Satrap of Ecbatana famously proclaims: "May you be the Persian Alexandros." Official beginning of Sassanid Rule over Persia. The only Parthian Lord not to submit to his authority is Artabanus V, son of Artabanus IV who rules as Shah in Northern Kharesmia.



227 CE: First unification of Hibernia. Cormac mac Airt is High King of Hibernia. Tara is made capital of Hibernia.



229 CE: Ardashir I defeats a coalition of Saka princes in battle near Yazd. The Saka kings submit to him as King of Kings. Neoplatonism begins to gain great popularity in the urban centers of the Roman Empire.



230 CE: Reforms of Ardashir I. Ardashir tries to institute a new magi Zoroastrian bureaucracy subservient to the state throughout the Satrapies. Alexandros IV receives an embassy from Artabanus V inviting him to attack Ardashir I from the West while the Parthian monarch would attack from the North East.



231 CE: Alexandros IV and Artabanus V attack Persia. Ardashir I decides to deal with Alexandros IV first. An indecisive battle is fought near Nisibis, the Persian army decides to retreat from the field. Alexandros IV proclaims it a great victory and promises to build a Temple to Sol Invictus on the spot of the battle.



232 CE: Alexandros IV slowly advances into Mesopotamia. Several minor skirmishes are fought, as the Persians are trying to buy time to reform their army near Ctesiphon. Artabanus V besieges Hecatompylos. In command of the defense of the city is the Moabadan-moabad, the chief of the magi priesthood. After the magi refusal to surrender the city, a furious and embittered Artabanus V decides to embrace the worship of Angra Mainyu on the condition of the fall of the city. He makes a public promise to Angra Mainyu before his army, that he will sacrifice all of the magi priests to him if he manages to conquer the city. The city falls, after a section of the wall miraculously collapses. Artabanus V has all of the magi within the city sacrificed to Angra Mainyu. The Moabadan-moabad is burned alive, Artabanus V proclaiming: "Let us see if fire will cleanse you of sin!".



233 CE: Alexandros IV and Ardashir I fight another great indecisive battle outside Ctesiphon. Ardashir I decides to withdraw rather than risk defeat. Alexandros IV proclaims the battle to be another great victory. He camps his army outside Ctesiphon making little effort to besiege the city. He proclaims Sol will deliver him the city without a fight.



234 CE: Ctesiphon surrenders. Dariush Surena commander of the city garrison is bought off to open the gates of the city. Alexandros IV proclaims it a great miracle of Sol. A series of ceremonies is held in the city in the honor of the Sun Emperor made flesh. Historians note 30 days of debauchery and ritual orgies. Alexandros IV makes little effort to continue the war being content to continue his celebrations in Ctesiphon.



235 CE: Alexandros IV killed while relieving himself by several of his Persian mistresses, after having publicly sacrificed several of his bastard children to his own self. It is said that Sol Invictus made flesh died chocking on his own excrement.



A wave of attacks on the Empire's European borders begins. Lucius Verus II proclaimed emperor by the Italian legions. In Rome, Alexandros IV's widow Aquilia Severa, the former Vestal virgin is buried alive according to Roman custom. Her young son Alexandros V, safe in Antiocheia, is proclaimed Sun Emperor in the East. Maximinus Thrax proclaimed Emperor by the Germanic legions.



236 CE: Ardashir I expells the Romans from Ctesiphon. He turns East to deal with Artabanus V. Lucius Verus II and Maximinus Thrax come to an agreement to rule as co-Emperors. Maximinus Thrax campaigns against the Germans. Lucius Verus II prepares to deal with Alexandros V.



237 CE: Lucius Verus II forced to campaign in Africa after Marcus Antonius Africanus, a descendant of Alexandros Helios of Amman and Marcus Antonius, was proclaimed Emperor by the Carthaginian legions and accepted as such by the client kings of Numidia and Mauretania.



238 CE: Maximinus Thrax and his son are assassinated. Gothic attacks in the East. Lucius Verus II besieges Carthage. Ardashir I defeats Artabanus V in battle outside Hecatompylos, after several Parthian nobles and their troops switch sides and betray him. Artabanus V flees vowing revenge. Cyaxares, a descendant of Xšayāršā the Achaemenid appointed Satrap of Margiana. He is given a free hand to deal with Artabanus V, while Ardashir I turns South West to deal with a Saka rebellion. Troubles on the European frontiers.



239 CE: Lucius Verus II forced to compromise with Marcus Antonius Africanus in order to deal with the troubles around the European border. Marcus Antonius Africanus recognized as co-Emperor. He promises to attack Alexandros V.



240 CE: Instead of attacking Alexandros V, Marcus Antonius Africanus mounts a major expedition against Hispania. Alexandros Severus Emperor of Hispania defeats Marcus Antonius Africanus near Valentia. Marcus Antonius Africanus retires to Carthage. Mani starts preaching at the court of Ardashir I.



241 CE: Shapur I is King of Kings. Alexandros V lands in Italia.



242 CE: Shapur I invades Roman territories in the East. Many Goths settled in the Crimea as clients of the Asanderoi of Cimmerian Bosphorus.



243 CE: Faced with the great crysis on the borders of the Empire, Alexandros V and Lucius Verus II reconcile. Alexandros V publicly forgives Lucius Verus II for the murder of his mother, he proclaims it to have been "the Roman way".



244 CE: Shapur I besieges Antiocheia. Alexandros V relieves Antiocheia, Shapur retreats East. Alexandros V and Shapur I agree to an armistice.



245 CE: Lucius Verus II assassinated by Germanic emissaries. His legions proclaim his second in command Marcus Traianus II as Emperor. Alexandros V accepts him as co-Emperor.



246 CE: Marcus Traianus II campaigns against the Germans. Alexandros V occupies himself with the further institutionalization of the religion of Sol Invictus and the Imperial cult.



250 CE: A Gothic invasion under Cniva advances into Moesia. Marcus Traianus II marches against the Goths.



251 CE: The Goths under the Amali King Cniva defeat a Roman-Dacian-Sarmatian army near Tomis. Marcus Traianus II is killed in battle.



252 CE: Shapur I invades Syria. Alexandros V appoints Publius Licinius Valerianus as co-Emperor and sends him to fight Shapur.



253 CE: Valerian campaigns against Shapur I. Several minor battles are fought.



255 CE: Alexandros V persecutes the Christians. Valerian and Shapur I fight an inconclusive battle outside Dura Europus.



258 CE: Battle of Edessa. Shapur I captures Valerian. Valerian is degraded in many ways, including being used as a footstool for the Sassanid Emperor while mounting his horse. After Valerian offered Shapur a great amount of gold as ransom for his release, Shapur I forces Valerian to drink molten gold. He is then flayed and his stuffed skin is preserved in Ctesiphon, as a monument to Roman shame. Alexandros V appoints Valerian's son Gallienus as co-Emperor. Alexandros V survives an assassination atempt by a Christian soldier, only to be grievously wounded and become bedridden. It is widely considered the Emperor is incapable to rule.



259 CE: A series of Germanic invasions across the borders of the Empire. Gallienus marches North to deal with them. Berber attacks in Africa. Marcus Antonius Africanus killed by the Berbers in battle. His young son Marcus Antonius Africanus II is captured and married to the Berber Amanaya princess Calara, of supposed descent from Amun. Rebellion of Marcus Posthumus in Gaul, proclamation of the Gallic Empire. In Britannia, Maximus Artorius, declares himself Emperor of Britannia.



260 CE: Odaenathus declares himself Emperor of Palmyra. He overruns Judaea.



261 CE: Marcus Antonius Africanus II escapes his Berber captors. He is welcomed by the legions in Carthage and proclaimed Emperor. His abandoned Berber wife Calara gives birth to twins. Odoenathus accepts the submission of Nabatea.



262 CE: Odaenathus accepts the submission of Syria and campaigns in Cilicia.



263 CE: The Palmyrene Empire is recognized by Gallienus.



265 CE: Posthumus defeats Gallienus near Lugdunum and has him and the first born son of Alexandros V executed. The head of his son is sent to the ailing Emperor in Rome. Upon seeing the severed head of his son Alexandros V begins a miraculous recovery.



266 CE: Alexandros V sends emissaries to Maximus Artorius offering to make him full co-Emperor in exchange for an alliance against Posthumus. Odaenathus conquers Ctesiphon and proclaims himself King of Kings.



267 CE: Odaenathus is assassinated on the orders of Alexandros V. His wife Zenobia succeeds him and rules for her son Vaballathus. Maximus Artorius attacks Posthumus.



268 CE: Maximus Artorius defeats Posthumus near Lugdunum. He proclaims himself Gallic Emperor, besides his title of Emperor of Britannia. He has Posthumus executed and sends his head to Alexandros V. Alexandros V acknowledges his rule over Britannia and Gallia.



269 CE: Zenobia conquers Egypt. Ptolemy XXV of the Caesarion line flees to his relatives in Kyrene. Zenobia marries her son Vaballathus to his captive daughter Cleopatra. With Zenobia in control of Egyptian grain supply Alexandros V decides to sue for peace but is rebuffed.



270 CE: Vandals invade Pannonia. Alexandros V appoints Aurelian as co-Emperor and sends him to fight the Vandals.



272 CE: Nestorians and Manichaens thrive in Sassanid Persia after Shapur I issues his Edicts of Complete Toleration. Zenobia conquers Ancyra after defeating the Galatian King Samorix. Samorix becomes a client of Palmyra.



273 CE: Aurelian wins a pyrrhic victory over Zenobia near Nicomedia. Zenobia retreats East.



274 CE: Bahram I is Persian Emperor. His policies favoring Manichaeism results in a wave of Manichaean missionary activity. Manichaean missionaries are sent in all directions, including the Steppes. Aurelian fights an indecisive battle against Zenobia in Cilicia.



275 CE: Aurelian advances into Syria. Zenobia decides to sue for peace. A peace is negotiated in Epiphania. Zenobia retains Palmyra as a client, and renounces all actual control outside her kingdom. She retains the title "Empress in Palmyra".



276 CE: Aurelian returns to Rome and is hailed "Restitutor Orbis" - Restorer of the World. Alexandros V confirms him as "deus et dominus natus" - God and born ruler. A new program of reform is launched strengthening the position of Sol as Supreme God of the Empire. On the 25th of December, while celebrating the Dies Natalis Sol Invicti he is assassinated by a Christian centurion. Alexandros V begins a great campaign of persecution in response.



277 CE: The Christian Pope Felix I is sacrificed to Sol Invictus and the Divine Aurelian in reprisal. Remaining Christians are purged from the Italian legions. New programs favoring Mithraism as the religion of the military are instituted.



278 CE: Alexandros V appoints his second born son Alexandros VI as co-Emperor. Alexandros VI defeats the Burgundians and the Vandals in Rhaetia.



280 CE: Alexandros V is assassinated by a Christian senator, who carves a cross on his chest. Renewed persecutions follow. Alexandros VI appoints Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus as co-Emperor.



282 CE: Alexandros VI campaigns against Persia.



284 CE: Alexandros VI enters Ctesiphon in triumph, he has the preserved skin of Emperor Valerian cremated during a grand ceremony of remembrance.



285 CE: The Amanaya Berber prince Antonius, the son of Calara invades Egypt. He enters Alexandria in triumph and is hailed as Antonius Ptolemy son of Amun.



286 CE: Diocletian issues a series of military and adminstrative reforms. Maximian is appointed as his junior co-Emperor by Diocletian. Alexandros VI turns West to deal with Egypt.



287 CE: Briton vassal King Carausius revolts against Maximus Artorius. Artorius goes to Britannia to put down the revolt. Diocletian sees this as an opportunity to invade Gallia. Alexandros VI defeated and captured in the Sinai by Antonius Ptolemy. Antonius Ptolemy has his eyes put out and parades the blind Emperor throughout Egypt.



289 CE: Diocletian appoints another co-Emperor in the person of Constantius-Chlorus.



290 CE: Diocletian attacks Egypt. Siege of Alexandria.



291 CE: Carausius submits to Maximus Artorius, now only Emperor of Britannia. Alexandria falls, the Blind Emperor Alexandros VI is released and he embraces Diocletian, seemingly recognizing him without aid, proclaiming that he is not blind but sees through the eyes of Sol.



292 CE: Diocletian and Alexandros VI chase Antonius Ptolemy who retreats into the desert. Maximus Artorius assassinated. His son Maximus Artorius II marries a Sarmatian, Zyxara.



295 CE: The Sassassanid Narses I invades Syria. Alexandros VI the Blind marches an army out of Antiocheia to meet him. Battle of Antiocheia ad Taurus - Alexandros VI the Blind leads his heavy cavalry into battle and defeats the Persians.



296 CE: Constantius Chlorus invades Britannia. Maximus Artorius II negotiates a peace. Roman dominion over Britannia is restored. Maximus Artorius II confirmed as client High King of Britannia.



297 CE: Alexandros VI campaigns against Persia. Galerius is his second in command.



299 CE: Alexandros VI defeats and captures Narses and his harem at Satala. In a legendary episode Alexandros VI the Blind seemingly comments about the various qualities of the concubines of Narses in spite of his blindness. Narses is forced to sign a humiliating peace, paying immense war reparations and ceding vast territories.