The 'starting position' of the Clans in around 500 BC
Brujah control Carthage
Lasombra in Spain and Northern Africa
Salubri control Greece - involved in the development of ancient Greek philosophy and arts.
Settites in Egypt
Ventrue found Republic of Rome
Toreador found wherever Art flourishes - including Greece and parts of Celtic lands
Gangrel and Nosferatu among Celts, sometimes as gods of groves and lakes Tzimices in eastern Europe Malkavians around - Celts, Greek and Roman Oracles, anywhere really
No Giovanni
No Tremere
NOTE: these are 'average' locations. Clan members may be found in other areas, but they will be minorites, and may not always be treated well.

510-509 BC - Republic founded in Rome by Coterie of 4th and 5th generation Ventrue take control of the city of Rome and begin to work for it's independance from Etruscans.

Early 4th C. BC, Celts settle Northern Italy and sack Rome.

250 BC - Rome controls all Italy. Ventrue ally with Toreadors within Italy.

206 BC - Romans control Spain. Treaty with Lasombra.

146 BC - Rome destroys power of Greek city-states. A treaty with the Salubri allows for the primacy of Greek language and culture in the Eastern part of the Empire.

Conflict with Carthage in Mediterranean ends in 146 BC with the destruction of Carthage. The Brujah split amid recriminations over the fall of Carthage. Small groups work against the Romans and some go north to ally with the Gangrel.

Towards the end of the 1st C. BC, conflict arises between the Toreador and Ventrue over control of the Roman Empire. The Toreador promote the idea of an Emperor, hoping to bypass the Ventrue stranglehold on the Roman administration and army. In the course of the struggle, the Settites are discovered to be using Cleopatra to gain a hold on Mark Anthony, in hopes of preventing Ventrue expansion into Egypt.

The Toreador and Ventrue unite to deal with the Settite plot. After Mark Anthony's defeat, there is a conference in Syracusae, attended by the Toreador, Ventrue, Lasombra, Salubri. The Gangrel, Brujah and Nosferatu do not attend.

The Cainite Senate is formed. All clans who sign the Treaty of Syracusae are entitled to send Senators. Any vampires from Rome and the provinces may attend to make requests regarding the running of the Empire. A mortal Emperor is to be appointed, at the choice of the Kindred Senate. Augustus becomes ruler of Rome in 27 BC.

As a result, the Empire becomes more cohesive and the provinces more equal. To reflect the situation among the Kindred, non-Romans become entitled to gain citizenship and even become Senate members. However, not unexpectedly, there is often conflict over choice of Emperor.

By AD 40, Rome has conquered much of Northern Europe, Northern Africa and Asia Minor. In the North, the Gangrel, Nosferatu and Brujah are unable to effectivly combat the Roman armies and retreat to the frontier at the Rhine.

AD 43 - Full-scale Roman invasion of Britain

The chronical will begin sometime in the years immidiately after the Roman invasion.

The Current status of the Clans

Ventrue: the Ventrue are the heart of Roman empire. As it's power had grown, so the clan has spread out from the Mediterrean and is now represented in all provinces. The powerful elders of the clan stay in the Italian heartlands, ruling through their broods. With the exception of the Brujah, the Ventrue are tolerant of other Clans withing the empire, basing their power on consensus and the prosperity the Empire brings. Most of the Clans based around the Mediterranean are involved in the empire in some way.

Toreador: In alliance with the Ventrue, the Toreador also support the Empire and are the second main force within it. They are found wherever there is a flourishing culture, primarily in Greece and Rome itself.

Brujah: the Brujah were the power behind Carthage. After it's destruction, the clan was torn by internal dissent and scattered around Europe. Many fled north beyond the reach of the vengeful Ventrue elders. For a Brujah, to be discovered in the Rome is to face Final Death.

Gangrel: The Gangrel have always been found among the Celtic peoples. As Rome's power has expanded many of those in the path of her conquests have retreated north, generally preferring to avoid confrontation. In these times, conflict between Kindred and Garou is much less and many Gangrel have friends and allies among the Werewolves, especially the Fianna.

Nosferatu: As secretive as in modern times, the Nosferatu have also shunned the politics and powermongering of Rome. Like the Gangrel, they are found among the peoples of the north. They have less contact with mortals and Garou but are often worshipped by mortals as local deities.

Tzimisces: A small but powerful clan based in the mountains of eastern Europe (as in modern times) the clan is little involved with the Empire.

Lascombra: Before the Empire, the Lascombra's main area of power was in Spain and North Africa and in their trading empires which spread accross the known world. Although the resisted the invasion of Spain by Rome, they eventually allied with Rome, leaving their mortal pawns to their own ends and abandoning the few Brujah who still lived there. Spain was then quickly defeated and is now a willing part of the empire.

Salubri: At this time, the Salubri are still a major clan and don't enjoy their later unpopularity. The clan stronghold is Greece, where they control many of the diverse and quarrelsome city states. They are a growing force within the Empire.

Malkavians: the Malkavians live all around Europe, with no discernable clan structure. They are often found living as gods to various peoples. Some of them exploit this, some genuinely believe they are divine beings.

Followers of Set: Seldom if ever seen in the empire, the power of the Setties was smashed at the end of the Republic (around 30 BC), when Cleopatra was revealed as a Settite agent and the Ventrue and Toreador allied to defeat them. After this, the Empire was established at the Treaty of Syracusae, signed by the Ventrue, Toreador, Lascombra and Salubri (I may have missed someone out.) This opened the Empire to the other clans and established a Kindred Senate where problems can be discussed (a forerunner of the Camarilla).

Future History: Fall of the Empire