Gallic Empire

The Gallic Empire emerged in 260 when Postumus was proclaimed emperor by troops on the Rhine. His regime controlled Gaul, Britain and, for part of its existence, Hispania while maintaining Roman institutions, coinage and frontier defence.

The breakaway state reflected the inability of the central emperors to defend every frontier during the Crisis of the Third Century. Gallienus attempted to recover the western provinces but failed to remove Postumus, and reunification came only under Aurelian in 274.

Falling Sky places Ballista in Gallienus’s campaign against Postumus. The novel uses the divided empire for cavalry warfare, political rivalry and the uncertainty faced by soldiers whose enemies claimed to be defending Rome as much as they were.