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Anno Domini, 832-January-4
Honestly, I was not good at this palace politics business. Roman politics was far too accustomed to bribes or, rather, gifts. While I did everything possible to better equip the themata and foederati forces that had to accompany us to Italy and maintain our borders, I clashed several times with the elites of the empire.
In my great attempts to prepare the army as much as possible for the conflict, I had contacted the smithies, manufactories and workshops that could be found within imperial territory. That was where a large part of the problem lay, since I was noticing certain flaws in production and many inconsistencies in the quality of the equipment. There were not enough regulations regarding the quality of imperial supplies.
Besides, although I could impose prices on those economic groups, their hands would not tremble if they could save costs by using poor-quality materials or rushed processes. They finished the work more quickly, but the result left much to be desired.
When I was inspecting the arsenals of Constantinople, I found an enormous irregularity in the equipment that had been purchased over the last few years. When reviewing many of the mail coats that were supposed to be distributed as equipment for the themata that would accompany me to Italy, it was evident that the smiths were using tricks to save costs and time.
In the armories of Constantinople, there were many mail coats made with rings much larger than the ones I usually used. In that way, they had to link fewer pieces and, at the same time, the armor ended up lighter, since they saved iron in its manufacture.
Things like that left the themata as a very poorly standardized army. We started from the basis of soldiers who had to personally pay for their own equipment and who, besides that, received poor pay. In the best of cases, they were given one silver coin a month for their services, so they depended far too much on loot.
That caused the troops to focus too much on plunder, and mistakes like those that happened in Al-Fustat ended up being committed. The reason was simple. Besides setting aside the fact that I did not particularly like Roman governors being both commanders and administrators at the same time, no matter how much they did not directly control the troops' salaries, in reality, nothing prevented them from rebelling. In the same way, they could count on their own means to pay salaries if the empire did not respond.
The reason the system continued working like that was because it was very cheap to have men who were moderately well armed and had some training for military campaigns. In the worst cases, if we fell into the corruption committed by some themata, we discovered that certain soldiers sent someone armed in their name. Usually, it was someone who worked their lands, or they simply sent money to hire some local or mercenary to fulfill the service for them.
There was the great problem: the lack of standardization, the lack of discipline and the existence of commanders with too much power in their governorships.
Severe changes had to be made in those matters. We had to professionalize the officers and try to separate them from the aristocratic families, moving toward a more meritocratic system. But I was not foolish enough to push for a massive reform that would, with complete certainty, end up causing a civil war. The greatest problem the empire had was that the iconodules were accumulating power to do something sooner or later. Because of that, we had to make changes, yes, but of a smaller scale. Reforms that would allow me to increase the personal power of the emperor and, at the same time, reduce the power of the strategos who were not trusted.
The good thing was that I had considerable support from Theophilos for the reforms I was trying to create. Even so, I had to apply them in specific areas, where we had the most loyal strategos.
Usually, the empire used its most loyal and competent commanders to protect the capital, giving them control of the themata that surrounded Constantinople, or sent them to some specific frontier where the basileus needed men of trust.
But now, considering that the empire had more gold and silver to pay salaries, the most normal thing would have been to expand the tagmata. Some additional units of excellently equipped and highly trained troops could be recruited from the most experienced themata of the empire. However, that was where the problem of bureaucracy and imperial corruption entered.
Creating new tagmata meant moving minor officers from the already existing units into higher posts, and that allowed the tagmatika forces, with their personal loyalties, to influence the formation of those new troops, using their positions to place whoever they wanted within their ranks.
The prestige of commanding a tagma unit was enough for some aristocrats and patrikioi to use their influence to try to force their way in through Theophilos. Marinos could no longer place his sticky hands directly on the army, but he could still influence certain things that were under the direct control of the basileus, such as the tagmata forces. Unless I had been given direct command over those units, the tagmata remained under Theophilos's command and under the influence of Theodora and Marinos.
So I did not want more tagmata. Only one thing remained: making a severe change.
With a budget, some competent administrators, some collaboration from the strategos and, above all, the approval of Theophilos, I had begun to implement a reform in the Optimaton, Opsikion, Boukellarion and Thrakesion themata. They were governed by men who had been recommended by Skleros, appointed by the former emperor or placed there by Theophilos himself, so they were proven and trusted commanders.
''Thank you for coming. We have much to discuss. I hope you were able to bring the censuses I requested last month'' I said, bringing my hand to the quill while I began writing some orders.
''It was not easy, but on my part, the census you requested was completed, magister ton Scholon'' said one of the strategos, who stood before me without armor or weapons because of the rules of the imperial palace.
''On my part as well, magister ton Scholon'' said a second strategos.
The other two also nodded.
''Any problems with the censuses? It is common for those who have the means to try to flee from those obligations, especially when they wish to avoid paying taxes'' I asked, while I began reviewing some of the books the strategos of the censused themata had brought, noticing that they had followed my format.
''Some. We have already delivered the names of those aristocrats to the competent bureaucracies'' said the strategos of the Optimaton.
''Good. The reason you are here is because the basileus rhomaion wishes to carry out some administrative and military reforms. I consider your themata to be the most suitable for those reforms, since they have the necessary requirements: developed population centers, internal stability and security by being behind the multiple defensive lines of the other themata'' I said, raising my voice a little as I noticed the discomfort of the strategos.
Clearly, they knew how to read the situation. The word reform was always dangerous for their positions.
''What kind of reforms?'' asked the strategos of Boukellarion.
''The kind that will return certain functions to the power of the civil administration within the themata. Civil governors will be appointed to administer, collect taxes, ensure that justice is delivered and fulfill other administrative functions that will have to be considered in the future'' I said, clasping my hands while watching their reactions.
It did not take long for me to see bitten lips, clenched fists and tense jaws. It was the most normal reaction that could be expected in a situation like that.
''The local army will remain under the control of military commanders, but those forces will be subdivided into smaller units, assigned to deal with bandits, rebels and problems of internal security. For that, new posts will be created, which for the most part will fulfill civil duties with authority over those matters. An urban and rural guard, to put it simply'' I added, letting them understand that they would be removed from a good part of their former powers.
''And what will happen to us?'' asked the most veteran strategos, the one from Opsikion.
''Excellent question. I appreciate that you ask it'' I said with a faint smile, watching their irritated reactions. ''You will be removed from your posts''
Their faces immediately tensed, but I raised my voice a little more before any of them could speak.
''But I will take you with me to Italy. Once we have expelled the frankos from their occupation of the legitimate properties of the Romans, I will need trusted men to whom I can entrust the government of a tense region with great chances of rebellion in the name of the basileus rhomaion''
Seeing how they began to calm down and look at one another, I knew it was the moment to give them the payment that had to make all of this more pleasant for everyone.
''The basileus rhomaion has authorized me to grant each of you a payment of five thousand nomismata for your good services to the empire. A small fortune. In addition, from my own pocket, I will give you another four thousand nomismata for the same reasons. You will become part of the invasion of Italy, and I need proven and competent commanders, men capable of leading the vanguards of the multiple offensives we will launch once we land in those lands'' I said with a wider smile, showing my teeth.
''I am grateful for this enormous gift from you, magister ton Scholon'' said the strategos of the Optimaton.
After him, the others did the same.
''So, please, prepare your trusted men. Some reforms will be carried out among the thematic soldiers who will accompany us to the area, so the troops loyal to you must march with you to Italy. Bring your trusted officers as well. We will need many of them, since this will not be a simple war. A campaign like this requires competent men'' I said, pointing to the exit of my workroom.
The strategos were guided by one of my bureaucrats, who would take them to receive their rewards. I remained alone with my personal guard.
''Why did you not start with the gold?'' asked Sigurd, while he began fixing his beard with a silver comb.
''It is not advisable to deliver bad news together with good news. The bad news takes value away from the good, to the point that it may not serve to calm their annoyance. Instead, if you start with the bad news, the reward feels sweeter. Or at least that is what I imagine. Considering that amount of gold, it should be enough for them. Each of them should earn between three thousand and four thousand nomismata a year governing a thema, after deducting their expenses. Giving them an advance equivalent to two years of income should calm them, especially when I am also offering them a better post in Italy, where they will have even more authority than in Anatolia'' I said, looking at Sigurd, who was still looking at himself in a silver mirror while grooming himself.
''Then are we leaving this place or not? Because many of my companions complain about how annoying the Romans are with their attempts at bribery and about not being allowed to beat them to death'' said Sigurd after finishing fixing his beard.
''I cannot let them kill anyone who wants me out of power, because they would end up killing a large part of Theophilos's court. But yes, we will leave the capital soon. We have to organize the new forces of the empire, since I plan to create a system of conscription of soldiers in these cities. I cannot depend on a force that rotates every year. I cannot form veterans if, when they finally gain experience, they return home to work the land. So a system that guarantees me troops for five years, with a decent salary and equipment paid for by the State, will be our beginning'' I said, pointing him toward the exit.
''So when you finish grooming yourself, go prepare the supplies. We will depart once I have finished reviewing the census books and see how many we are going to recruit with the new recruitment system''
''Good. I will prepare the ships'' said Sigurd before leaving the room.
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