Patrick Seiser revives the fall of the Roman Empire in Roman!

Patrick Seiser revives the fall of the Roman Empire in Roman!

On August 12, 2025, Patrick Seiser, an aspiring author from Zillingdorf near Wiener Neustadt, published his debut novel, which deals with one of the most exciting chapters in history: the decline of the Roman Empire. His work, which runs to over 500 pages, combines historical facts with narrative freedom and invites readers to immerse themselves in a tumultuous time.

The action of the novel begins in March 455 AD, when the Roman Empire is facing its dissolution. Seiser addresses the political intrigues and power struggles of this era, which have kept historians in suspense for a long time. The author would like to shed light on uncertainties about the origins of such a serious collapse. According to meinkreis.at, the question of whether the fall of the empire was unavoidable remains a central point of discussion in historical research.

Historical context

The decline of the Roman Empire was long taken for granted. Historians such as Edward Gibbon, who postulated in the 18th century in his The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire that internal weaknesses, not external attacks, were responsible for the fall, are still very much part of the debate. Gibbon partly blamed Christianity, as its influence had weakened the old Roman forces. Other factors considered to be causes include pressure from Germanic peoples as well as government regulation, over-taxation, and the attachment of peasants, all of which led to the erosion of Western Roman central power, according to wikipedia.org.

Economic problems, civil wars and internal conflicts further weakened the empire's defenses. While the Eastern Roman Empire remained more stable and survived until 1453, administrative errors and the failure of the Western Roman emperors accelerated the politically disintegrative process in the West. Although the Roman military superiority remained intact, the loss of control over the provinces was clearly noticeable. Flavius ​​Aëtius, a key figure of this period, was able to maintain the authority of the Western Empire in 454, but was assassinated shortly afterwards. The consequences of such a power vacuum were devastating for the Western Empire.

Seiser’s perspective and goals

With his historical novel, Patrick Seiser not only wants to arouse interest in the ancient Roman era, but also expand the niche for history books. Through a glossary that explains complex technical terms and his narrative style, which, as meinbezirk.at reports, combines historical accuracy with artistic freedom, Seiser strives to make the past tangible. His characters are not only actors in history, but also representatives of the diverse thoughts and philosophies that shaped this time.

At a time when many people long for roots and history, Seiser's debut novel offers a compelling way to engage with the subject matter. The decline of the Roman Empire remains a fascinating topic that is still vigorously debated in historical scholarship today, and perhaps Seiser's fresh approach will contribute to a renewed interest in this era.

Patrick Seiser has proven himself to have a good hand, and we are excited to see how his readers will react to their first step into the complex world of late antiquity.