With the Senate Purged, and the Armies under his command Marcellus had declared himself Emperor, and Dictator, to act as the supreme authority in the Western Roman Empire until a point where the political situation could be stabilized, and the realm became prosperous once more.
Immediately there were concerns among the patricians, and plebeians alike, as to the extents Marcellus would take to ensure his vision of a glorious and untied Empire. However, after what happened to the Senate, few, if any, were willing to voice them.
A messenger had been dispatched to Alaric, seeking to come to negotiations. While this was occurring, conscription had been enacted and tens of thousands of young men were rounded up from their homes and placed into military service. Despite a lack of personal funds, Marcellus had seized the wealth of the senators he had killed and used it to fund the expansion of the Roman Army.
