Introduction to Rome and the Sasanians

Short book synopsis
In a 4th century Roman Empire, Livia, the emperor's estranged daughter, is forced to go back to Rome with her mother to take refuge from the Sasanian invasion. This thrust her at the centre of the conflict between her parents, the deadly politics of the imperial court, and the attention of the empire's enemy, the Sasanian king.

Meta

Genre

Romantic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Alternative History

Location

An alternative Roman Empire in the late 3rd century.

Tone

Knightglow
The might of the Roman Empire has imposed peace over its conquered territories, allowing them to flourish and prosper. This a world filled with inequalities: between nobles and commoners, citizens and non-citizens, free people and slaves, men and women, rich and poor. Yet, there is always an opportunity to improve their life for those ready to seize it. Whatever their status, everyone is perfectly conscious of the fortune they have in living in the empire, and they all feel a deep sense of superiority over all their neighbours and a just as deep loyalty for the empire and the emperor.
Yet, invasion attempts from powerful enemies are suddenly threatening all of this. For many, this feels as if an apocalypse is about to be unleashed over the world. The only thing protecting them is the emperor and his armies...

by Enrico Nardi (Scena dell'antica Roma, 1894)

Setting the scene

The world

The Roman Empire was torn by a brief period of anarchy in the middle of the 3rd century due to a succession crisis. Thankfully, a new powerful dynasty, the Junius, seized the throne and re-established order. The invention of a new type of forest-based magic has even allowed its latest emperor to manage a conquest that had long eluded Rome: that of Magna Germania.
The interior of the empire is extremely prosperous thanks to the restored pax romana allowing for vast trade exchanges with all of Rome's neighbours: the Angles in Cimbric Chersonese, the Berbers in Africa, the Arabs in Arabia, Germanic and Iranian tribes in the East of Germania Magna and North of Pannonia and Moesia, the Sasanian Empire in the East, and the Alans North of the Caucasus. And through those neighbours, Rome can also trade with the far-away lands of Scythia, Ariaca, Dakinabades, Chersonesus Aurea, Seres, Sinae and Silla.
Yet, this is a period of changes, with the weakening of the Roman generals and senatorial families in favour of the imperial family, the slow emancipation of Roman women and their increasing— an now official— involvement in politics, and Christianism spreading through the empire. But worst of all is the sudden conquest of Anatolia and Archaea by the Sasanians and the threat they pose to the rest of the empire.

The Emperor by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

The Roman and Sasanian Empires year 344

Open full size

Click the options on the map to see how the Romans and Sasanians have gained and lost territories over the last decades, as well as to see the name of the Roman regions and foreign countries and people.

Click the options on the map to see how the Romans and Sasanians have gained and lost territories over the last decades, as well as to see the name of the Roman regions and foreign countries and people.

Magic

Magic is obtained through worships of the gods. Each god is associated with a few specific powers. Learning a new type of magic is done through meditation and "listening" to the magic, until you can become attuned to it. You then need to be able to get ot through your body without damaging yourself, shaping it into a spell, and then send it at the target.
Gods don't have exclusive dominion over specific magic. Which divinity to pray to for water-based magic is a personal choice, although different locations are more propice to different gods. Each divinity's magic creates a certain atmosphere or induce a specific feeling when going through the human body. This is how people identify divinities and their attributes. Certain plants and animals are associated with a divinity when they make practising that magic easier.
In the Roman Empire and the Sasanian empire, many different religions are practised. The most important ones are the cult of Jupiter and of the Roman emperor, Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and Buddhism.

Roman temple by Majorgaine on DepositPhotos

Sacred Fire by piolka on DepositPhotos

Conflicts

Family drama

The Roman emperor's wife, Aurelia, is from an important senatorial family. Immediately after her marriage, she got herself very involved into politics. This triggered a lot of conflict in Rome, both among jealous rival families and traditionalists resenting a woman's prominence. The tension spread to the imperial couple, and everyone was more than delighted to exploit the situation for their own gain.
This resulted in Aurelia escaping the palace with the emperor's only child and heiress, Livia, and going into hiding. While the emperor has mistresses and bastards sons that he has recognised, he still has not named any of them as his heir, and he is thought to be waiting for the return of his daughter.
When, 21 years later, the Sasanian invasion finally forces Livia and Aurelia back to Rome, all the old quarrels are re-awakened. Livia finds herself in the middle of it all, torn between her parents' desires for her and their differing visions of her future.

Aurelia and Junius quarreling by AmélieIs with an image from Antimartina on DepositPhotos

Roman politics

While Roman women have played prominent roles in the empire, all of this has been unofficial. At least until now. Since the new imperial dynasty came to the throne, the prosperity of the empire has brought women more and more freedom. And now the emperor wants to name Livia as his heir and to crown her co-emperor at his side to ensure a smooth succession.
For many of the senators, this is far too much, especially as the emperor as perfectly able sons available. However, others see this as their opportunity to seize the throne by marrying the young princess. What is sure is that the succession is threatening to plunge the empire into a new period of civil war. While those troubles could have been faced while at peace, the new threat posed by the Sasanian Empire does not give the Romans the luxury of being divided by internal quarrels.

The senate by Cesare Maccari (Cicero Denounces Catiline)

The Sasanians' threat

The Roman's Eastern neighbours have always been dangerous enemies. However, a few generations ago, the Parthian Empire was overthrown by the Sasans from Persia who claim to be the heir to the ancient Persian empire. Their new dynasty led a series of fabulous conquest, first against the Parthes, then against the Roman themselves. The new King of King, Sapur, has proven himself by conquering Anatolia 15 years ago, and the Roman have been unable to retake it since then.
When the Roman emperor finally managed to conquer Germania Magna 5 years ago and was ready to turn his sight towards Anatolia again, the Sasanians did an express conquest of Achaea. Everyone is waiting for his next move with baited breath. The Sasanians' magic is mighty and still relatively unknown, but Rome is running out of time to find a counter against it.

Sasanian spahbed (general) by Wikimedia Commons

Characters

The princess: Junia Livia Aureliana Sensilis. Livia was 9 years old when she left the palace with her mother. Since then, she has continued to be educated in politics and estate management, but she has also learned a lot more things that she could not have in Rome: military strategy, different types of magic, and many of the different cultures of the empire.
At 30, she feels more than ready to finally play the role for which she has prepared all of her life. Yet, at the same time, she is dreading the loss of freedom and independence she is going to suffer and the uphill battle she will have to fight to get the senators and soldiers to respect her. But the throne is hers, and she refuses to let them transform her into a puppet-wife.

Princess Livia by TopVectors on DepositPhotos

The emperor: Gaius Junius Solaris Lepidus Arabicus Germanicus Maximus. He is a very elegant and charming man, which has earned him the nickname Lepidus. He is considered to be a good emperor and is appreciated by the senators, the people, and the soldiers. Yet, despite his blasé attitude, he can be just as manipulative and cruel as any politicians. His marriage to Aurelia was political, yet he was thought to be found of her before their fight. He has many mistresses and two illegitimate sons.

Emperor Junius by TopVectors on DepositPhotos

The empress: Aurelia Annia Junii Ralla. She is very strong-willed and independent and suffered under the scrutiny of Roman high-society. When her husband was unfaithful, it was the last straw. She decided that he was manipulating and using her, lying and not truly caring about her, being dismissive about her problems with Roman nobles, etc. She left Rome with her daughter so that Livia would not be raised in this environment and could be free to become who she truly is before being exposed to politics.

Empress Aurelia by TopVectors on DepostPjotos

The Sasanian king: Shapur. Sapur's father was defeated by the Romans, and he was murdered b his own people for it. Rather than choose a cousin to succeed the king, Sapur was "crowned in uterus" before his birth in an attempt by the nobles and priests to grab the power for themselves. Since he has reached adulthood, Sapur has had to prove himself constantly, whether through demonstrating his superior culture, reforming the Persian administration, or beating the Romans. It seems that all of this gave him a taste for glory, as even after his fantastic conquest of Anatolia and Achaea, it doesn't seem as if he is ready to stop...

Shapur, King of Kings of Iran and non-Iran by Mo Rasoulipour

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