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Anno Domini,833-February-March-14
''Basil… Skleros has arrived with an army'' said Sigurd while I continued reviewing the preparations for the ceremony due to take place that day.
''Thank goodness. I was beginning to think I would have to postpone the plan… Show him in'' I replied, clasping my hands.
His arrival reassured me a little. He had taken longer than I expected to gather his men and march on the capital.
Sigurd nodded and returned to the city gates. I remained seated, waiting to speak with Skleros.
''He refuses to enter. He believes you're behind the conspiracy to overthrow and murder Theophilos'' Sigurd informed me when he returned.
''Could you go and speak with my mentor? He will probably listen to you, especially since you remained loyal to Theophilos until the bitter end'' I said, looking at the second-in-command of the scholai.
The officer nodded and accompanied Sigurd to the city gates.
I waited again, though this time it was a messenger who appeared before me.
''Domestikos ton scholon, the strategos Skleros requests your word that, if he enters the city, he will be allowed to leave should the discussions fail'' said the man.
''Well… It seems my mentor truly believes I betrayed Theophilos. He has my word, for what little it may now be worth to him. No one will harm him'' I replied, closing my eyes as I sank back against the chair.
I awaited the arrival of my political mentor until, at last, Skleros appeared. The time since our last meeting had not treated him kindly. There was more grey in his hair and beard, and his eyes looked even wearier.
''Skleros…'' I said when I saw him.
I found nothing but hatred in his gaze.
''What idiocy have you just committed, you damned fool? Was this your intention from the beginning? Was it, Basil? Was everything you did over these years meant to seize the throne?'' he demanded as he approached with some difficulty.
''I had nothing to do with it. I took no part in the conspiracy, nor did I order anyone to act against him… For God's sake, Skleros, Theophilos was one of the few people I could call a friend. Do you truly believe I would have ordered them to drive a dagger between his ribs, again and again, as those scholai did?'' I replied, rising and slamming both hands onto the table.
''I do not know, Basil. All I know is that you have negotiated with his murderers to have yourself proclaimed emperor of the Romans. And you expect me to believe your account of what happened? Everything points to you having led the betrayal'' said Skleros.
He continued advancing slowly. His cheeks trembled whenever he spoke, and he could barely contain his rage.
''I did not agree because I wanted the crown, Skleros. If I refused, they would put the first fool willing to obey them on the throne. I will not allow the dream of Theophilos and his father to die because of the iconodules' treachery'' I replied through clenched teeth.
''And, conveniently, that decision places all the power of the Empire in your hands, now that Theodora and her son are dead as well'' Skleros retorted, taking another couple of steps.
''My fault was being stupid enough to give them the opportunity to act. I made things easier for them without realising it, but I took no part in their plans. And when that ceremony begins, many things will change'' I said, clenching my fist.
''What will change? I have heard that you will pardon all the traitors and distribute imperial lands among the iconodules'' said Skleros, frowning.
''That is what I have led them to believe. I will not let Theophilos's death go unpunished. Today's ceremony will bring all those aristocrats together in one place. I will have the opportunity to finish them and tear the rot out of this court once and for all'' I replied with a smile.
''What in God's name are you doing, Basil? Have you lost your mind? That will unleash a civil war! The provincial aristocrats will not stand idly by while you murder some of the most powerful families in Constantinople. The strategos will rise against you. Everything we have worked towards for decades could unravel in a matter of days because of such stupidity!'' Skleros exclaimed, gesturing with his hands.
His eyelids trembled as he looked at me, as though he still expected me to take it back.
''It is necessary. Their intrigues have just cost the Empire a good emperor. I cannot allow everything to remain as it is, with Rome devouring its finest rulers and only worthless men willing to submit to the aristocrats' wishes able to hold the throne. That demands change, Skleros. Profound changes to the way the Empire is governed. That is why we must act together. With my supporters and yours, we can keep the armies on our side, swiftly crush those who rebel, and punish those who betrayed our emperor'' I said, approaching him.
''You are mad, Basil. All you will achieve is the loss of everything we have gained. The Saracens will attack us again. The Franks will do the same. We will face rebellions throughout the Empire while our enemies recover what we took from them. Accept the crown, and then we will see how to bring the guilty to account. We can consolidate the government, rebuild, and wait for an opportunity. We do not need to rush headlong into such madness'' Skleros replied.
''NO! I will not allow those who betrayed Theophilos to live! I will kill every last one of them. Everyone who took part in his murder will die. They, their wives, their children, and anyone who shares their blood. Every last one. Until no one remains who can claim descent from them. I will erase their names so that they will never again be honoured or remembered. I would sooner see the Empire reduced to ashes around me than leave Theophilos unavenged!'' I exclaimed.
Only a couple of steps now separated me from Skleros. My mentor began backing away.
''You have lost your mind… This is worse than the religious persecutions. I will not take part in such a massacre, Basil. You stand alone. Cursed be the day I found you in the mud of Adrianople, and the day I recommended you to Michael… It seems a share of the blame belongs to me as well'' said Skleros before turning towards the exit.
Sigurd and several hirdmen barred his way.
''You promised I would be allowed to leave the city'' said Skleros, turning to look at me.
''No. I promised you would not be harmed, and no one will harm you, my old mentor. But I will not allow you to ruin my plan either… Arrest him. Keep him under guard in one of the palace rooms'' I ordered, looking at the floor.
''Cursed be your blood, Basil! Cursed be the day we met…! Let go of me, you filthy pagans!'' Skleros shouted as my hirdmen seized and gagged him.
''I am sorry… Skleros'' I murmured.
I could not stop a tear from escaping as I watched my men lead my mentor towards the more secluded chambers of the palace.
''The time has come. My men will be inside the Senate'' said the second-in-command of the scholai.
''Mine will surround the building and watch the nearby streets'' Sigurd added, looking at me with a smile.
''Then the moment has come'' I replied, rising to finish fastening my armour.
Nothing more needed to be said. We prepared for the ceremony we had arranged over the past few days with those who had betrayed us.
First, the assembled aristocrats would vote to elect me emperor of the Romans. Afterwards, the five patriarchs would take part in my coronation, each playing his part amid blessings, prayers and incense smoke. They intended to bind my elevation to the Senate and the Church, so that I would never forget to whom I owed the crown and would govern in submission to their demands.
Imperial authority, surrendered to the designs of traitors.
When we arrived, the Senate building was already crowded with officials and aristocratic families. Some had travelled from the nearby provinces to attend the ceremony. I entered, followed by the scholai and several men of my hird.
Representatives of some of Constantinople's oldest and most powerful families occupied their places around the central floor of the chamber. In that very place, only a few years earlier, we had witnessed the confirmation of Theophilos as emperor after his father's death.
Now they were gathering to hand me the throne after betraying him.
Every gaze turned towards me as I entered. Shortly afterwards, the farce began, led by an iconodule who had assumed the presidency of the assembly.
''After so many years of persecution, God has delivered justice. The tyrant Theophilos, who kept the Empire in thrall to iconoclast error, has fallen. But Rome needs an emperor. A sovereign who will restore concord, protect the true faith and guide us through the difficult task of repairing the wrongs of these past decades. Who, among the men worthy of serving the Empire, should receive such a responsibility?'' he proclaimed, looking at the senators and the representatives of the oldest families.
Several aristocrats put themselves forward for the imperial dignity, but their candidacies were rejected one after another. I presumed none possessed what I had: an army willing to obey him.
One name followed another, and the assembly found reasons to dismiss them.
Until my turn came.
''Though of humble birth and unconnected to the ancient lineages of this assembly, the domestikos ton scholon has demonstrated his ability in the service of the Empire. Rome needs a strong emperor, capable of securing the obedience of the armies. I therefore propose Basil Makedon as a candidate for the imperial dignity'' declared the president of the Senate, gesturing towards me.
The senators began exchanging opinions. This time, the discussion was brief.
The proposal was put to a vote and received the assembly's support.
Once elected, I descended to the central floor of the chamber, accompanied by my hirdmen and the scholai. The five patriarchs, the bishops of the Church's most important sees, began the rites of my coronation.
The scent of incense filled the air as each patriarch recited his prayers and blessings. At last, the imperial diadem passed into the hands of the patriarch of Constantinople, who approached me.
''Kneel'' said the patriarch.
''That will not happen'' I replied, looking him in the eyes.
I reached out, took the diadem and turned towards the members of the Senate.
''TODAY… Rome may die. Today may mark the end of the Romans' dream, and everything we have built may be reduced to ashes. But if that is our fate, the phoenix shall rise from those ashes. And with it shall rise a new order that will shake the foundations of the world'' I proclaimed as I placed the diadem upon my head.
The senators and aristocrats began protesting. Their voices rose over one another as they pointed at me, outraged by what I had just done.
Then other cries rang out.
''DEATH TO THE TRAITORS! WE WILL AVENGE THEOPHILOS!'' several scholai roared as they drew their swords and hurled themselves at those nearest to them.
Chaos swept through the chamber. The aristocrats tried to reach the exits, only to find my hirdmen blocking the thresholds. Varangians poured through every doorway, killing everyone in their path.
Blood began pooling on the floor. The screams multiplied as more men pushed through the entrances to join the slaughter.
I saw a scholai slash open an aristocrat's belly. His entrails spilled onto the stone.
A Varangian smashed another man's head against a pillar, bursting his skull.
Shrieks accompanied every blow that severed a limb. Some of my men seized their victims by the hair and smashed their faces against the edges of the seats, sending teeth flying. The scholai held others by the arms while their comrades stabbed them again and again.
Blood, broken bones, screams and severed limbs. The slaughter continued around me.
Turning, I met the horrified gazes of the five patriarchs. They stood motionless, watching the men who had elected me emperor die only a few steps away.
''DEUS VULT?'' I asked, staring at them.
''The just punishment of traitors'' replied the bishop of Rome, lowering his head.
''I expect your council to firmly establish the emperor's supreme authority over the Church… Or you will be next'' I said, sweeping my gaze across the patriarchs' terrified faces.
The slaughter continued a little longer, until bodies lay heaped among the seats and beside the exits. Blood ran down the steps and pooled on the central floor of the chamber.
''Take the patriarchs out of here… This has only begun. We still have tagmata to punish. March on the barracks of the excubitores, the hikanatoi and the noumeroi. Send men to the aristocrats' mansions and villas as well. Their families still live. The vengeance for Theophilos has only just begun'' I ordered as I climbed the blood-soaked steps towards the doors of the Senate.
''As you command, basileus of the Romans!'' replied the scholai and several of my hirdmen before setting off towards the next battle.
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If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.
Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.
I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.
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