/u/derstherower's posts in /r/askhistorians
Syagrius ruled the "Kingdom of Soissons" until 486, keeping Roman control over a large part of Gaul for a decade after the Western Empire fell. What would "Roman" control have looked like at that point? Were there ever efforts to reconquer Italy, or get help help from the Eastern Empire?
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How were the borders of the Central Asian Soviet Republics drawn? Was there a distinct "Uzbek Nation", for example, that existed in the Russian Empire, or did that identity only develop after the formation of Uzbek SSR?
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How exactly did the Sack of Constantinople in 1204 cause the Byzantine Empire to fracture? Many capitals throughout history have been captured by an invading force and the nation did not fall. For a state as powerful as the Byzantines, it seems to be an extreme consequence.
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To what extent can the Crusader States of the High Middle Ages be described as colonies? Exactly how independent were they from their Western European founders?
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How did the Italian Mafia become the stereotypical image of American organized crime when there were many other similar groups (Irish Mob, Jewish Mob, Russian Mafia)?
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There were four months between the first Southern state seceding and the outbreak of the Civil War. What did the average Northerner think about these secessions at this time? Would they have felt that it would lead to war, or just end up as a (relatively) minor event like the Nullification Crisis?
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How did Bohemia, a Slavic nation of Czech-speakers, become so heavily integrated into the German-dominated Holy Roman Empire?
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What factors led to some British Caribbean islands becoming independent and some remaining overseas territories? Why are places like Barbados and Grenada independent while places like Montserrat and Anguilla are still ruled by the UK?
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The Palaiologos dynasty was the longest lasting dynasty in the history of the Roman Empire, ruling from 1261–1453. How did a dynasty presiding over the most catastrophic period in Roman history (ultimately ending in the destruction of the state) manage to rule for so long?
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Wilhelm II believed until the end of his life that the rise of Nazism could result in the restoration of the German monarchy, going as far as to tell Hitler this in letters. Hitler (understandably) ignored him, but why did he think this? Did he really think that Hitler would just give up his power?
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