Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 4395373, member: 19463&quot;]Was Postumus a threat to the Empire as a whole or just recognition that the idea Diocletian later introduced was needed then.&nbsp; Gallienus was spread too thin.&nbsp; Postumus was not trying to take over the whole Empire but just his corner of the world.&nbsp; Later, Carausius and Allectus tried the same thing and would have succeeded had Diocletian not have delegated the West to Maximianus.&nbsp; In the beginning, Rome was just a part of Italy.&nbsp; At the end, the Byzantine Empire was just inside the walls of Constantinople.&nbsp; Between the two we have a constant flux as to what was Roman and what was under local control whether client states or independent neighbors/enemies.&nbsp; Gallienus probably thought he was entitled to rule the world because Trajan had. He was wrong. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I can&#039;t go so far as Ras does in that last line.&nbsp; Killing your family members to advance your personal position was standard operating procedure in many periods.&nbsp; Hanging the old fool out to dry is hardly an impeachable offence by ancient standards.&nbsp; If he didn&#039;t want to be a footstool, he should have not been captured.&nbsp; By ancient/medieval standards, the worst of our modern rulers would be considered weaklings and pushovers asking to be overthrown.&nbsp; Bastards? Psychopaths? No.&nbsp; Realists well suited to their times?&nbsp; Probably.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in