Part 1: The War in the Shadows, Chapter 3: Be All My Sins Remember'd, The Regime Change
Emperor Justinian sighed. His father had just passed away. He was sad, but now was no time to mourn. The Eastern Roman Empire looked to him as Emperor now. He needed to lead it.
His father had told him of his network of allies (subjects, really). He knew that using them would aid him greatly. He decided to look through his father’s work. A lot of it was already done, but it would be a good way to find out what the state of the Empire actually was.
He dismissed his “allies”, but he also told them to stay in the city. Then, he looked through his father’s papers. Much of it was uninteresting, but there was a letter asking for aid from the Legio IV Italica, warning of the treachery of most of the Legio I Armeniaca. Justinian frowned. That was bad news, but hardly surprising. He knew that the loyalists had ultimately emerged victorious, but the Italian campaign had failed.
He quickly wrote a letter to Odoacer, asking for a status quo ante bellum peace. He knew that Odoacer would accept - that was a better peace deal than he had been expecting. But Emperor Justinian knew that many of Odoacer’s subjects were getting restless. He could deal with Odoacer later, when Odoacer was in a worse position. Emperor Justinian wasn’t about to change Alexios’s assignment, especially considering how successful it had been.
However, the new Emperor did have a plan. Many of the Empire’s subjects wished to serve in the army, and, therefore, to aid in the restoration of the glory of Rome. He could take advantage of this sentiment. He could use it to rebuild both the Legio I Armeniaca and the Legio IV Italica. But he could also use it to create more legions. “Yes,” he thought. “Increasing the amount of standing armies that my empire has at its disposal will be useful. Very useful. It would eliminate many of the advantages a surprise attack would grant, and it would make offensive wars be won much quicker.”
However, he knew of which states he was going to attack. The Sassanids would attack quickly. They always did whenever the Eastern Roman Empire was thought to be vulnerable. Therefore, he would surprise them. He would attack them before they could attack him - they wouldn’t expect that.
The Goths in Cherson had apparently also given monetary aid to the coalition during the civil war that occurred in his father’s reign. Emperor Justinian couldn’t allow that action to go unpunished. If he did, then other states would get the idea that interfering in Eastern Roman civil conflicts was an action that could be done with impunity. Encouraging that could very well bring about the downfall of the Eastern Roman Empire entirely. No, those Crimean Goths had to be punished. War would be brought to them, and they would be forced to swear allegiance to him.
There was to be a war on two fronts. His new legions would help with that, but utilizing his network of allies was also a good idea, but which allies would do what? He mulled over that question for a while, and, then, he made a decision.
He called his three main allies to the Imperial Palace. They arrived quickly, which was good. It meant that they had probably obeyed his orders not to leave the city.
“Right,” Emperor Justinian began. “I’m sure that you’re wondering why I have called you here.”
All three men nodded. They all figured that it had something to do with the regime change, but they weren’t sure exactly why they had been called. Each had an idea, but they wanted to be sure.
“Alexios,” he began. “Your assignment shall remain the same. You shall continue to spy on Odoacer and his court. As two legions have been almost completely destroyed on campaign in Odoacer’s realm due to deceit, we know that Odoacer can be devious. You shall continue to spy on Odoacer and encourage dissent amongst his subjects - nobles and commoners alike. Soon, we shall rule Italia, but not yet.”
Alexios nodded. He asked if he could leave to continue with his assignment, and the Emperor answered that he could. He wouldn’t be present when the other “allies” received their assignments, but that was just as well. Alexander was the only person present aware of the things that dwelt in the shadows - other than the Emperor himself, of course - and Emperor Justinian was just fine with keeping his allies in the dark. It ensured that they were less of a threat to him and his rule.
“Now, on to Anastasios,” the Emperor continued. “Do you command the army that your father once commanded?”
Anastasios nodded. That army was personally loyal to Demetrius and his dynasty, and Anastasios was Demetrius’s son and heir.
“Good,” the Emperor said. “That army shall aid the legions when the legions need aid. I advise that you continue to train them, so that they remain good troops.”
Anastasios nodded. Then, he left, after he got permission from the Emperor to do so, of course.
Emperor Justinian smiled. “Both of us know that the shadows hide many things.”
“Yes,” Alexander answered. “Why do we care about that at the moment?”
“I am aware of the existence of the Persian Conspiracy and the coalition that aims to restore the Roman Empire,” Emperor Justinian answered. “We shall attack the Sassanids before they attack us. I believe that the two groups I just mentioned will be happy with this information. Inform them.”
Alexander nodded and left to do his job.
A few months later, Emperor Justinian smiled. The legions had been created and trained. He was prepared for the wars that were about to come.
“We attack at dawn,” he whispered.
His father had told him of his network of allies (subjects, really). He knew that using them would aid him greatly. He decided to look through his father’s work. A lot of it was already done, but it would be a good way to find out what the state of the Empire actually was.
He dismissed his “allies”, but he also told them to stay in the city. Then, he looked through his father’s papers. Much of it was uninteresting, but there was a letter asking for aid from the Legio IV Italica, warning of the treachery of most of the Legio I Armeniaca. Justinian frowned. That was bad news, but hardly surprising. He knew that the loyalists had ultimately emerged victorious, but the Italian campaign had failed.
He quickly wrote a letter to Odoacer, asking for a status quo ante bellum peace. He knew that Odoacer would accept - that was a better peace deal than he had been expecting. But Emperor Justinian knew that many of Odoacer’s subjects were getting restless. He could deal with Odoacer later, when Odoacer was in a worse position. Emperor Justinian wasn’t about to change Alexios’s assignment, especially considering how successful it had been.
However, the new Emperor did have a plan. Many of the Empire’s subjects wished to serve in the army, and, therefore, to aid in the restoration of the glory of Rome. He could take advantage of this sentiment. He could use it to rebuild both the Legio I Armeniaca and the Legio IV Italica. But he could also use it to create more legions. “Yes,” he thought. “Increasing the amount of standing armies that my empire has at its disposal will be useful. Very useful. It would eliminate many of the advantages a surprise attack would grant, and it would make offensive wars be won much quicker.”
However, he knew of which states he was going to attack. The Sassanids would attack quickly. They always did whenever the Eastern Roman Empire was thought to be vulnerable. Therefore, he would surprise them. He would attack them before they could attack him - they wouldn’t expect that.
The Goths in Cherson had apparently also given monetary aid to the coalition during the civil war that occurred in his father’s reign. Emperor Justinian couldn’t allow that action to go unpunished. If he did, then other states would get the idea that interfering in Eastern Roman civil conflicts was an action that could be done with impunity. Encouraging that could very well bring about the downfall of the Eastern Roman Empire entirely. No, those Crimean Goths had to be punished. War would be brought to them, and they would be forced to swear allegiance to him.
There was to be a war on two fronts. His new legions would help with that, but utilizing his network of allies was also a good idea, but which allies would do what? He mulled over that question for a while, and, then, he made a decision.
He called his three main allies to the Imperial Palace. They arrived quickly, which was good. It meant that they had probably obeyed his orders not to leave the city.
“Right,” Emperor Justinian began. “I’m sure that you’re wondering why I have called you here.”
All three men nodded. They all figured that it had something to do with the regime change, but they weren’t sure exactly why they had been called. Each had an idea, but they wanted to be sure.
“Alexios,” he began. “Your assignment shall remain the same. You shall continue to spy on Odoacer and his court. As two legions have been almost completely destroyed on campaign in Odoacer’s realm due to deceit, we know that Odoacer can be devious. You shall continue to spy on Odoacer and encourage dissent amongst his subjects - nobles and commoners alike. Soon, we shall rule Italia, but not yet.”
Alexios nodded. He asked if he could leave to continue with his assignment, and the Emperor answered that he could. He wouldn’t be present when the other “allies” received their assignments, but that was just as well. Alexander was the only person present aware of the things that dwelt in the shadows - other than the Emperor himself, of course - and Emperor Justinian was just fine with keeping his allies in the dark. It ensured that they were less of a threat to him and his rule.
“Now, on to Anastasios,” the Emperor continued. “Do you command the army that your father once commanded?”
Anastasios nodded. That army was personally loyal to Demetrius and his dynasty, and Anastasios was Demetrius’s son and heir.
“Good,” the Emperor said. “That army shall aid the legions when the legions need aid. I advise that you continue to train them, so that they remain good troops.”
Anastasios nodded. Then, he left, after he got permission from the Emperor to do so, of course.
Emperor Justinian smiled. “Both of us know that the shadows hide many things.”
“Yes,” Alexander answered. “Why do we care about that at the moment?”
“I am aware of the existence of the Persian Conspiracy and the coalition that aims to restore the Roman Empire,” Emperor Justinian answered. “We shall attack the Sassanids before they attack us. I believe that the two groups I just mentioned will be happy with this information. Inform them.”
Alexander nodded and left to do his job.
A few months later, Emperor Justinian smiled. The legions had been created and trained. He was prepared for the wars that were about to come.
“We attack at dawn,” he whispered.
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