Roman Empire

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Roman Empire
Original Name	罗马帝国
Type	Neutral Character (AI)
Affiliation	Holy Church; Roman imperial government
Status	Divided into the Eastern and Western Roman Empires by 395 AD 46
First Appearance	5

Background / History

The Empire is an ancient European power whose history extends from the Age of Gods. By 48 AD, it controls the Mediterranean and, after a long campaign, completes the conquest of Britain as its forty-fifth province. The victory consolidates Roman control over northern France, Belgium, and the English Channel. 7

Under Emperor Claudius I, Rome has formidable military and economic strength but lacks a clear legal system of imperial succession. Its provinces are divided between imperial governors—who oversee strategic borders and grain regions—and senatorial governors, who administer wealthy internal territories such as Greece. 8 15 16

Conversion to Christianity

Novia exploits the Roman victory in Britain by creating a fiery cross “miracle,” which Claudius uses to restore army morale and secure victory. The event introduces Christianity as a credible new religious force within the Empire. 7

Christianity spreads rapidly among both poor and wealthy Romans, aided by its promise of spiritual equality under one God. Novia presents monotheism to Claudius as a means to centralize imperial authority: “one God, one Emperor, one Empire.” 6 8

In 55 AD, Claudius is baptized by Novia shortly before his death. He prohibits all non-Christian religious activity, closes pagan places of worship, and makes Christianity the Empire’s sole legal and state religion. 29 31

Britain and Provincial Policy

Following the conquest of Britain, Lucius Longinus is appointed governor at Novia’s request. 9

Novia later advocates a more lenient policy toward British tribes: communities that repay their debts and obey Roman law may retain a degree of independence. This policy is intended to prevent future uprisings caused by seizure of tribal lands, excessive taxation, and abusive administration. 16

Judean Rebellion and Syria Palaestina

A rebellion led by Doro Bar Kochba destroys Rome’s Twelfth Legion in Syria and captures its Eagle Standard. Claudius entrusts Novia with five legions, fifteen auxiliary cohorts, and two mage legions to suppress the revolt. 22

The Roman campaign devastates Judea. Nero’s southern force kills 200,000 Jews, razes forty-six fortress towns and 568 villages, while Novia ultimately destroys Jerusalem and defeats Doro with the Dragon of Albion’s power. 23 25

After the campaign, the Empire renames Judea Province as Syria Palaestina, bans Jewish civilization, and converts the surviving Temple site into a Christian religious center. Novia receives a Triumph in Rome despite the campaign being the suppression of an internal rebellion. 25

Reforms and Later Legacy

Under Nero, Rome expands public welfare and infrastructure, including free bread for influential old soldiers, stipends for impoverished senators, new ports, and the Corinth canal. The canal strengthens Roman control over Greek commerce. 30 33

Novia’s planned reforms combine Church authority and Roman force to reshape the Empire through conditional land enfeoffment: vassals owe loyalty to their lords, while lords must protect their vassals. He also promotes investment in Byzantium to secure the eastern provinces and develop trade. 32 36

Novia’s later legacy credits him with turning Byzantium into a great city, restoring Roman strength through reforms, and serving as the first Pope. Nero continues his plans after his disappearance. 39 40

By 418 AD, conflict between papal authority and imperial authority has resulted in an Eastern–Western division. The Western Empire is dominated by papal power from Rome, while the Eastern Empire is dominated by imperial power and associated with the Patriarch of Constantinople. 46

Government and Society

• Emperor — Holds imperial authority but faces constraints from the Senate and the Praetorian Guard. 16
• Senate — Controls wealthy internal provinces and can veto imperial appointments; its interests place it in conflict with Novia’s religious and political centralization. 16
• Praetorian Guard — An elite force stationed outside Rome that can determine an emperor’s survival. Lucius later reforms it around Christian faith and personal combat discipline. 16 29 30 33
• Holy Church — Becomes the sole lawful religious institution after Claudius’s decree and is formally organized under Pope Novia. 29 30 31
• Provincial administration — Imperial provinces are strategic or economically vital regions with heavy garrisons, while senatorial provinces are generally wealthy interior territories. 16

Military

• Roman legions regard their Eagle Standards as the soul and pride of each legion. A legion that loses its Eagle Standard is disbanded and its designation cannot be restored. 22
• The Judean suppression force consists of five legions, fifteen auxiliary cohorts, and two mage legions under Novia’s command. 22
• Roman warships include five-story vessels and Corvus ships, deployed in large numbers during the Judean campaign. 22
• Lucius’s Britannic Legion is described as one of the Empire’s strongest legions and makes the greatest contribution during the campaign in Judea. 30
• A Triumph is Rome’s highest military honor for a victorious commander. Novia’s procession replaces the traditional final destination of Jupiter’s temple with a Christianized Pantheon. 25

Religion

• Rome originally follows polytheism, with different gods associated with industry, commerce, love, wisdom, and war. 8
• The fading of the Age of Gods weakens confidence in the old gods and creates an opening for Novia’s Christianity. 6 8
• Christianity becomes the state religion in 55 AD, with all other religious practices designated heresy. 29 31
• The Pantheon is stripped of non-Christian symbols and repurposed for Christian rites, including Nero’s coronation blessing. 25 29
• By 418 AD, religious conflict between the Roman Church in the West and the Eastern church coalition has become a major source of division. 46

Notable Locations

• Rome — Imperial capital and later headquarters of the Holy Church. 29 46
• Britain — Conquered in 48 AD and made Rome’s forty-fifth province. 7
• Ostia — Major harbor approximately twenty-five kilometers from Rome; a departure point for voyages across the Mediterranean. 8 9
• Judea / Syria Palaestina — Province devastated during the rebellion and renamed after Rome’s victory. 22 25
• Jerusalem — Destroyed during Novia’s campaign, then designated for rebuilding around the First Temple. 25 32
• Byzantium — A strategic gateway between the Black Sea and Aegean Sea targeted for major commercial and political development. 32
• Corinth Isthmus — Site of Nero’s canal project, which strengthens Roman control of Greek trade. 33

Relationships

• Novia — Divine Envoy, military commander, architect of the Empire’s Christianization, and first Pope; later credited with reforms and the development of Byzantium. 7 29 39
• Claudius I — Emperor who conquers Britain, relies on Novia’s counsel, accepts baptism, and establishes Christianity as the state religion before his death. 7 8 29
• Nero — Claudius’s successor; continues Novia’s political, religious, and infrastructure plans as emperor. 29 30 40
• Lucius Longinus — Governor of Britain and later commander of the Praetorian Guard; reforms Rome’s elite guard under Novia’s direction. 9 30 33
• Senate — Political body whose provincial wealth and appointment powers make it a persistent obstacle to Novia’s centralizing agenda. 16
• Holy Church — State religious institution founded and organized under Novia’s leadership. 30 31

Trivia

• Britain’s incorporation in 48 AD comes nearly a century after Rome’s initial campaigns there began in 55 BC. 7
• The Empire’s Christianized Pantheon retains the cross as its sole religious symbol. 25
• Despite extensive reforms, Novia believes Rome’s eventual decline cannot be permanently prevented. 33