Julian’s Triumph
This mod is set in 2197 AUC (aka 1444 AD) which is my attempt to answer the question of "What if Julian II of Rome reformed Hellenism and successfully challenged the spread of Christianity in the late 4th century". Before I begin with Lore, I just want to say that this mod is very likely not the most realistic attempt to answer the former question as even though I tried to make it as realistic as possible, I also included what I wanted to happen and it also has elements (especially in the East such as India since I am not as historically attuned with those regions) from the CK2 start "The Old Gods" since this was a CK2 conversion at its beginning. This mod has new nations, new national ideas, and modified religions to match this worlds history (Hellenic_pagan_reformed has become Sol Invictus and zun_pagan has become Solis Tribus the challenger to Sol Invictus) and Mission Trees are on my plate for future updates (if I have time and can figure it out).
Lore:
(Prior to 1444 AD)
– In our Timeline Julian II died in his campaign against Persia, however here that is not so. Julian II defies death and achieves his goal to conquer Persia, taking Mesopotamia and establishing a Pro-Roman King on the Persian throne. With this victory, Julian II returns to Rome with the popularity of both the army and the Roman people allowing him to pursue his ambitions to rebuild the pagan glory of Rome. Simply reforming Paganism was not enough so he used the growing cult which had challenged Christianity previously (Mithraism/Sol Invictus), the faith which his Uncle Constantine had once followed, along with his own Neo-Platonic Philosophy to make a faith to challenge the growing Christian Church. He would center the faith around the sun god Sol who was the sole (get it, a Pun!) most important deity however this did not mean the rejection of the older pagan faiths of the Roman world but simply meant their acknowledgement as sub gods to Sol and eventually becoming Sol’s children in the Cosmology of his faith. Julian would finally separate the Collegium Pontificum from the secular government of Rome allowing it to form its own hierarchical structure not only to emulate the success of the Christian church but to also prevent a Christian emperor from subverting the old gods ever again. With the Financial support of the Roman Government and the more structured pagan church, Christianity began declining in the Empire without the need for violent persecution, forcing Christians to migrate to the eastern world where it was more accepting turning it to a more eastern religion. Julian’s Sol faith would spread across the Roman world replacing Christianity as the dominant Western Religion. Julian would die around 401 AD leaving the empire to his chosen successor based upon merit like the Five good Emperors of Rome had once done, leaving the empire in a much stronger state than it was in our timeline.
– The next Great figure of Roman history would come when a Macedonian General in the Roman legions would take the throne in the late 6th century known as Alexander Aetos, by an election when the previous childless emperor died without a successor and the generals of the Empire convened to choose a new emperor to prevent a Civil War much like Trajan’s succession. He also claimed to be descended from the last Antigonid king of Macedon and he would also marry into a noble family who was descended from Julian II and with his powerful genetic legacy he would, with his newfound prestige, unify the Greek and Roman people in the Empire. His dynasty proved highly resilient to the many centuries that have passed where they still rule the Roman world by 1444 AD becoming this world’s Habsburgs.
– In this version of my mod I have also taken the assumption that without the influence of Christendom, Islam would not come about (or at least not in the same form) and so I have allowed Manichaeism to fill the Vacuum. The equivalent to the Crusades in this reality takes place when Rome’s Rivalry with Carthaginensis leaves it weak in the East and the Persian Empire begins expanding in the late 10th century AD and when it sacks Alexandria, a most Holy Hellenic city, the Pontifiex Maximus declares a Holy War on Persia.
(At 1444 AD)
– The Roman Empire is facing another Aetos Family conflict, as the previous Emperor Gaius was unable to choose among his three sons as a successor to the Empire, so he instead defied the Senate’s Role in confirming a successor and gave each of his sons an administrative position within the Empire (Eugenius was given Rome, Junius was given Egypt, and Titus was given Anatolia). When Gaius died, the two sons, Junius and Titus, would declare their independence from Rome and thus creating a rivalry to last the century and beginning what Historians would call the Crisis of the 22nd century for Rome. However, not all of Rome’s fortunes are bleak, for Rome now has begun its expansion into the New World to counter Carthaginensian expansion and it will now allow Rome to tap into a resource rich land to fuel its re-birth as a global empire. Rome, Carthaginensis, and Norway have begun the Process of Colonizing the New World and it seems other powers shall settle there and it may be that the New World will simply become another blood bath for the Old One. Carthaginensis is a great power as well following the faith of Solis Tribus to challenge Rome, which molded itself after Rome and the old nation of Carthage during its founding, it now sees itself as Rome’s greatest Rival and is attempting to take back the Empire it lost in Europe and Africa while maybe even one day taking over Rome as Europe’s greatest empire. The more Feudal Northern Europe is as fractured as ever but always attempting to curry Rome’s Favor as it is the center of the Sol faith but also for Rome’s help with dealing with the Sol-less barbarians in the Eastern World. Many Norse and Slavic people have rejected Sol keeping their traditions untainted with Roman influence however one of the most powerful of these countries, Ruthenia, has within the last century accepted Sol as their primary god and it has sparked fear of a possible future trend. In the East, Israel was created as a buffer state for Rome both blocking Arab expansion while also preventing occupation of a troublesome land and giving a place for the Jews to settle but they are facing a crisis as Christians within the area have revolted against their Jewish overlords. Babylon through constant warfare with the Arab tribes was prepared for the Mongols and in their victory in the early 13th century AD they have solidified their position as a great Hellenized Power being able to shatter Mongol Invincibility. Persia was reformed by the ancient house of Karen after the Ilkhanate receded northward and has once again become a great force to be reckoned with in the Area becoming Rome’s second greatest Rival after Carthaginensis took first place. The Mongol Expansion was stopped by a famed Babylonian General and their empire has fractured into many different sections in the decades after, however their most lasting legacy now is their acceptance of Zoroastrianism which they have spread across Asia. The Mongols are also being pushed out of China where a Resurgent Tang is attempting to Free itself from Mongol yoke and may even attempt to spread into the Unknown Eastern Sea to maybe find the Fabled Empire of the Golden Eagle and its wealth. Now the question is which country shall you lead to glory or collapse into oblivion in this new era of strife, bloodshed, and mystery.
Notes:
– The graphics mod I am using is called "Graphical Map Improvements" by Isaiah.
Credits:
– Any unique Flags in this mod come from either CK2 or CK2/EU4 mods.
– The unique Deity symbols come from other EU4 mods.
– The unique New World names for the Roman Culture are integrated from "MiscMod" by Danarca.
P.S. Why form the United States when you can form Atlantis! 🙂
Revisions:
Old revisions of this mod are available below. Click the link to download.
