Total War: Attila

[Hasdrubal]

Attila would not have leveled Constantinople, and even if the Theodosian walls weren't there, he'd still have to get past the Constantian wall, which Gainas in 404 failed to breach.

Tell that to the people who were at Aquileia when Attila besieged their city. I don't remember reading about Gainas, or maybe he or they had a different name? However, it was no different then Fritigern or Alaric roaming the Roman countryside pillaging. When it came to besieging a Roman town or Garrison, it just wasn't viable. Alaric or Fritigern or anyone for that matter didn't know what to do.

Then you bring up Aetius. Funny story about Aetius that I'm sure you're familiar with was that as a young man as for a peace treaty, he spent some of his life with the Huns. There they grew to know each other, and became fond of one another to where Aetius could come and go within their tribe as he pleased. Now we both know Aetius told Attilas uncle Rua a few things about Roman's fortifications hence why Attila in the end ravaged any city he came by and passed their defenses with ease.

To get to the geist of the story I doubt Constantine walls would've stopped Atilla like it did a few others. Attila was different.

The army paid better than the civvie pay. It's estimated the average civilian made 3 solidi a year. A miles of the Limitanei made one Annona (4 Solidi until Anastasius, who increased it to 5), and also had the income his family would generate farming or trading or whatever. An infantryman of the Comitatenses it's estimated was paid 4 annonae, or 16 Solidi (20 in Anastasius' time onwards).

Furthermore, the soldiers received tax breaks as well.

You're mentioning the Eastern Roman Empire. I did say earlier that if it wasn't for Theodocians Walls (Why we're debating in the first place) that the Eastern Roman empire would cease to exist. However they did have Theodocian's walls therefore they were able to hold out and keep trucking onwards for the next millennium. I somewhat understand economically why the Holy Roman Empire lasted, but it was because of those walls to why they were able to last. Constantine knew what he was doing when he scoped Constantinople out.

I'm not very familiar with the Eastern Roman Empire after the Western collapsed. I know they handled their taxes, collection of said taxes, and their army better than the West. They were more disciplined then the West and it's why they continued on. Different languages between the West and East, and for the majority, different religions and belief systems.

I know a little about Odoacer, Justinian, and Belisarius; who in fact may have reigned in the Western empire if Justinian would'n't have stopped him if I remember correctly

Other then that I only remember a bit about Alexis Comnenus I because of the Crusades, which I am familiar with. I haven't gotten around to reading about the Eastern Roman Empire at the moment. Right now I'm knee deep in early Roman history and loving every minute of it. This has been a very enlightening debate and I thank you for having it with me.