Fluvius (should that not be Flavius, "The Blonde"?), I love that endquote, it is so correct. I wish someone would do the same for MTW II.

Phillipus, I beg to differ, a state exists as long as its administrative apparatus does and runs it, whoever is head of the state. So no matter that there were struggles for the throne, Rome carried on. Something else killed it.

The bane of the Republic though, was definately its own city state constitution that could not cope with the challenges of empire, but the Roman empire continued after that, so that is another story.