Hispania was a historical region corresponding to the western Iberian Peninsula. In this alternate timeline, rather than being divided into Roman provinces, Hispania became a unified Roman client kingdom. The region developed a rich hybrid culture, combining elements of Roman, Iberian, and Germanic traditions. It also emerged as a leading center of Greco-Roman culture in the west and was one of the first regions to adopt Christianity.
Before the arrival of the Romans, Iberia was inhabited by a variety of Indo-European, Celtic, and Turdetani peoples, including the Lusitanians, Cantabrians, Iberians, Celts, and Tartessians. Among these, the Celts and Turdetani formed the most powerful kingdoms, each controlling large portions of the Iberian Peninsula.
The Phoenician colonizers arrived in the west of the Iberian Peninsula around 1100 BCE, followed by the Greeks, who established trading colonies along the eastern coast in the 8th and 7th centuries BCE. Iberia's trade networks with Carthage would later play a significant role in the Punic Wars and eventually bring the region under Roman control.
Unlike in our history, Rome did not annex Iberia as a province but instead installed a native ruler as a Roman client king responsible for the region's administration and defense. The Romans began their campaign in the eastern Iberian Peninsula and gained control over Hispania through diplomatic relationships and alliances with local chieftains.
The reign of the client king allowed for a smoother transition to Roman hegemony in Hispania. Though there remained resistance from some groups such as the Lusitanians. Eventually, the Romans succeeded in consolidating their rule through the development of roads, infrastructure, and the integration of Hispania into the imperial trading network. They also established colonias and strategically placed castella to prevent any counterrevolutionary movements.
Hispania developed a unique culture during Roman rule and the following centuries. Roman influences dominated the region, including advances in public infrastructure, monumental architecture, education, literature, and governance. Alongside the Roman traditions, native Iberian customs, language, and artistry also survived and evolved, creating a distinct Ibero-Roman cultural identity.
Greco-Roman theatrical performances, literary productions, and public festivals gained widespread acceptance across Hispania. Influence from other parts of the Roman world, both eastern and western, also played a role in shaping the cultural and artistic landscape, as artists and thinkers from throughout the Mediterranean immigrated to the western Iberian Peninsula.
Hispania was one of the first regions to receive the Christian message outside of Judea. According to Christian tradition, the Apostle Paul visited Hispania in the mid-1st century CE, where he would evangelize and lay the foundations for various thriving Christian communities.
Early Christian writings, such as those of Saint Irenaeus of Lyon, attest to the flourishing of Christianity in Hispania during the first century, with some writers even claiming that Christianity reached Hispania before Greece or Italy. These Christian communities would develop their own unique traditions and influence European Christianity for centuries to come.
Although the fortunes of the Western Roman Empire waned in the 5th century, Hispania maintained its links to Rome through the Pyrenees, remaining integrated within its cultural and political orbit. Unlike in our history, many key Roman military institutions survived in Hispania, providing defense against the encroaching Germanic invaders.
Following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476, Hispania began an era of diffused political power among regional Romano-Iberian rulers, avoiding the destructive Visigothic invasions that plagued other parts of the Iberian Peninsula.
Throughout the Middle Ages, Hispania remained a leading cultural force in the western Mediterranean. Moorish influence and intellectual exchange penetrated into the region following Umayyad conquests in the 8th century, enriching Hispania's cultural heritage further.
Hispania's connection to Europe continued, with the region playing an active role in continental political affairs. It also served as a beacon of learning and culture in both the Islamic world and Christian Europe, being renowned for its prominent scholars, philosophers, and religious leaders. Attesting to the significance of Hispania, the Codex Vigilanus was produced in the 10th century, containing one of the most comprehensive compilations of Hispanic culture, law, and history.
Today, Hispania serves as a symbol of the rich cultural heritage found in the Iberian Peninsula, blending Roman, Iberian, Islamic, and Christian traditions. The region's prosperity during the Roman era, its early adoption of Christianity, and its resilience throughout the Middle Ages contribute to its unique and enduring legacy, shaping the course of history in the Iberian Peninsula and western Europe.
