Romains
Romans enter into Arthurian legend from history. The Romans ruled Britain for four centuries/ and have been absent for only one. Their civilized way of life once dominated Logres, and the protection of the cloak of imperial majesty is still sought by whoever benefitted from their peaceful rule. Now, only those who live in and around the larger cities call themselves Romans, and hold the old way of life. Though they call themselves Romans they will be labelled by historians as Romano-Britons or, even worse, sub-Romans.
The Roman knight is proud, cultured, devious, and practical. It comes, no doubt, from living in the cities.
Romans everywhere, whether from Rome, London, or Paris, have the same beliefs in imperialism, urbanism, and Christianity, even though they disagree about which empire should rule. The Romans believe in imperialism, a proven system which fosters peace and trade. They know themselves to be superior because of the long tradition of the Roman Empire, which they are still a part of. They generally favor Emperor Arthur, now that he has proved himself in the recent Roman war (and in many other previous campaigns). They know that urban life is far superior to the rural way preferred by ordinary lords and landowners.
The Romans form a literate society of administrators and petty land holders who maintain the old Roman cities as fiefs. They are followers, and advisors, of their lords. Note that one major area, Dorset, is all-Roman.
My son,
We are Romans, the last of that noble people. We are the heirs of Aeneas, the hero of Troy. We are the heirs of Romulus who established the city of Rome.
King Kymbelinus was the first Cymric King to remember the superiority of the Roman ways. He had been raised in the old city and brought many of our forgotten customs and rights back to us, so that our cities became as Roman as the great city itself. He sent tribute to Rome, expressing gratitude.
Guiderius, the son of Kymbelinus, was a fool. He hated Rome and oppressed any who had adopted Roman ways, forcing us to ask the empire for help. Emperor Claudius came with an army and the king was killed.
His brother King Arviragus brought peace and married a daughter of Emperor Claudius, welcoming Roman traders to settle on this isle. However, not everyone was pleased. Queen Boudica rebelled against the encroaching Roman ways, destroying many cities and killing Romans and Britons alike. Emperor Vespasian came with an army to help King Arviragus to crush the rebellion, for which help King Arviragus ceded the Rebels’ lands to Rome, establishing the empire’s right to this land.
After that, our kings worked in harmony with the empire, allowing both merchants and soldiers into our land. They built roads and cities for trade, and forts to protect us from enemies. At last, King Lucius invited in Faganus and Dyvanus, missionaries who taught the Good News of Christ to our people. All the folks of the cities converted to the Roman Church quickly, and missionaries went about the countryside to liberate the heathens from their worship of the old gods and demons.
Our fidelity prompted Emperor Severus to grant Roman citizenship to all free people of the empire, and we became Roman in name, too. He established the British Senate, or Supreme Collegium, which assembled the leaders of the greatest British tribes and wise men from the cities to make decisions. We prospered, and our prosperity became the target of jealous Romans like Carausius, who ruled for a mere thirteen years before he was killed by Roman troops led by King Allectus. Our wealth tempted him, and he seized kingship of the land until Asclepiodotus, King of Cornwall, defeated him and was given the kingship. He honored the Roman ways, and so when Emperor Diocletian ordered the persecution of all Christians it was he who made our first martyrs. The natural justice of our people rebelled against this and Duke Coel of Colchester rose up and defeated him, ending the persecution.
Constantius Chlorus came to bring the land back into the empire. He married Helen, daughter of Coel, whose dowry was all of Britain, and then negotiated reentry into the empire with Constantine Chlorus, who accepted kingship of Britain, and then became Emperor of Rome. He kept Britain safe while powerful men sought to rule the empire, breaking its unity and holding parts as their personal realms. When he died, his son became king.
Constantine, son of Constantius Chlorus and Queen Helen, was troubled by the evils that beset the continental empire. He took an army of Britons and righted these wrongs, defeating every rival in battle and uniting the glorious empire again, bringing wealth and peace to all. He declared the Christian religion to be the religion of the empire and oversaw its unity with the adoption of the Credo. He reorganized the empire and established an eastern capital named after himself. No other emperor before or after him was titled the Great. All was well.
Octavius proved that men can redeem themselves. He seized the kingship without regard to the wishes of our Senate. Trahern, brother of King Coel, defeated him in battle and took the throne. When King Trahern was assassinated, the Senate brought Octavius back to rule, and he did so well and with the confidence of the British people, while the continental empire once again broke into pieces as men fought to be emperor.
Maximianus, son-in-law of Octavius, ruled next. He is known as Macsen Wledig to the Cymri. He sought to emulate his uncle and raised an army of Britons to liberate the beleaguered continent. He conquered half of it, but was slain by his foes. His efforts stripped Britain of legions and left it open for foreign kings to wreak havoc upon it. His regent, Dionotus, sought to defend us, but he was helpless without an army. Upon the death of Maximianus, Gratian Municeps came with two legions and drove off the invaders. He seized the crown, ignoring the British Senate’s right to choose a High King, but he was foolish and so greedy that the plebeians rose up and slew him. General Stilicho restored Roman power for a while, but soon the legions were withdrawn to defend Rome itself from the barbarians, and we were left defenseless.
The Senate sent a letter to the Emperor of Rome to beg for protection. It was answered by the command to see to our own defenses. Rome was dead, and it was up to us to preserve the tradition as the last True Romans.
We sent representatives to our sister land of Brittany to offer the kingship to King Aldronius, the son of Maximianus. He did not accept it, but instead sent his brother, Constantine II, whom the Cymri call Constantin, with a small army to fight for him. With this new army, he chased off the raiders and thieves, and once again brought peace to all.