CHAPTER 20
1371-1373
FALSE TEACHERS
On 29th day of May in the year of Our Lord 1373 the illustrious Imperial Council of the Imperium Romanum have assembled to debate and advice the blessed Augustus Basileus Autokrator of the Imperium Romanum Luis Angelos The Second, chosen by Our Lord and Savior as God's Regent on Earth and Protector of the Christendom.
Subjects of the 264th Imperial Council assembly:
- report of Scrinium Barbarorum concerning province of Moesia;
- celebration of the 20th anniversary of Renovatio Imperii Act;
- spread of Catholic heresy in Italia and Syria;
- unrest in Syria and Abyssinia.
Present members of the Imperial Council:
- Michael Angelos, Magistros of Basileia Romaion and Grandmaster of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre
- Isaias Makrembolites, Strategos of Basileia Romaion and Captain of the Varangian Guard
- Gabriel of Nephin, Sakellarios of Basileia Romaion and Grand Mayor of Ferrara
- Dowager Empress Ausilia Caetani, Mystikos of Basileia Romaion
- Bishop Gonzalo of Sutri, Ecclesiarch of Basileia Romaion
And His Serene Highness, Venerable Sebastokrator of the Imperium Romanum Porphyrogennetos Markos Angelos with his illustrious wife, sebastokratissa Eupraxia Dalassenos as most honorable guests of the Imperial Council.
Minutes made by vestarches Pakourianus, eunuch of the Great Palace
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Where is the map, eunuch?
EUNUCH: Here, oh glorious-
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Good. Leave us.
EUNUCH:
Kyrios.
ISAIAS MAKREMBOLITES: Huh.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: What is it,
strategos?
ISAIAS MAKREMBOLITES: Nothing, my
kyrios. They say that your glorious ancestor Leon Angelos also paid much attention to his maps. One would thought that by now the eunuchs of Bureau of Barbarians have learned to not anger grandmaster of the Brotherhood.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: And they did. Cruelty is not an answer for everything.
ISAIAS MAKREMBOLITES: But it does help to keep your inferiors disciplined, my
kyrios, as you probably know from your vast... experience.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: I hope for your sake that you're not trying to mock me, Isaias – not even the position of your House would protect you if you dare to challenge my authority.
ISAIAS MAKREMBOLITES: With all due respect, oh glorious
magistros, it would be unwise for the Augustus to make even more enemies among the Great Houses.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Unwise? Opposing the Throne would be unwise, my friend. Very unwise – or have you forget what happened to another Makrembolites who was a member of this Council when he decided to challenge the imperial authority?
ISAIAS MAKREMBOLITES: I didn't forget.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: He was blinded, Isaias. The Throne took his eyes. Never forget this.
ISAIAS MAKREMBOLITES: We will never forget this. My
kyrios.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Good. So let's take a look at the map then.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: That's how it looked on 3rd August 1371 when the war ended, with the Imperial Army concentrated here, here and here. And it didn't change so far, my lords – the barbarians are still there, swarming on this chunk of land like flies on a bloody piece of meat torned away from the still living body. The Mongols are now ruling over Christian citizens of the Imperium, desecrating our churches, using our fields to feed themselves. They can see the towers of Konstantinoupolis from their ports, for God's sake! This is unacceptable. We must reconquer Moesia.
GABRIEL OF NEPHIN: Bulgaria, my
kyrios.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: What?
GABRIEL OF NEPHIN: The barbarians call it khanate of Bulgaria.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: I don't care how they call it - t's the Roman province of Moesia and it will always remain it! We've destroyed the Bulgars and they pathetic state once, we can surely do this once more. These lands aren't even connected to the Mongol realm, it shouldn't be hard to defeat them.
GABRIEL OF NEPHIN: They established a connection using ships from Crimea, which presence on the Black Sea – however I hate to say it – we are bound to tolerate according to the terms of peace treaty.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Since when Romaioi have to abide the treaties with the barbarians?
ISAIAS MAKREMBOLITES: The Great Khan has more than 200,000 warriors all of whom are only waiting to ride against the Imperium and not being bound by the treaty he may attack us at any moment.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: We've rebuild our armies,
strategos. Didn't we prove it during the last few years in Italia? In Syria?
ISAIAS MAKREMBOLITES: Facing Pisans or some minor horse-lord is something else entirely than attacking the Horde, my
kyrios.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Not with God on our side. We've rebuilt, our wounds are healed and we shall have our righteous revenge. Or do you really think we can tolerate their presence mere one day of horse ride from the City? Huh? Do you?
ISAIAS MAKREMBOLITES: …
GABRIEL OF NEPHIN: My
kyrios, war it's not only the matter of sword but coin. And the imperial treasure have lost a tremendous amount of gold during pas few years.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Finances are not my speciality – I'm the warrior of God, not a merchant. So be so kind and enlighten me then,
sakellarios. How much money do we have?
GABRIEL OF NEPHIN: Well, before the Great War the Throne had more than 28,500
hyperpyrra, amassed slowly during the decades of diligent rule of not only the Augustus, but also every single basileus since the times of Saint Markos, blessed be his name.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Mhm. And how much do we have now?
GABRIEL OF NEPHIN: A little more than 20,000
hyperpyrra.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: That's enough.
GABRIEL OF NEPHIN: But
kyrios, the Imperium have lost almost one third of its reserves! Our armies were almost completely destroyed and we're still rebuilding
tagmata, which costs a lot. With every month we're spending more then we gather in taxes and it would take years before our reserves rise to the previous level. You can't think about offensive against-
MICHAEL ANGELOS: You dare to say what a son of Augustus can and can't do,
sakellarios?
GABRIEL OF NEPHIN: No, my
kyrios. Please forgive me.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Besides, I thought then after the expulsion not only the Imperium was cleansed from the enemies of God but that also the imperial treasury was enriched. And didn't this Jew in his arrogance wanted to take your position in this Council?
GABRIEL OF NEPHIN: Yes, illustrious
magistros. But it wasn't as much as we expected.
GONZALO OF SUTRI: It doesn't matter. What's important is that we've removed the cause of our misfortune. Never again the vile presence of the murderers of Iesus Kristos will defile the Imperium and the sacred Great Palace from where God's Regent rule over the Christendom. We have found the source of sin and removed it, thus earning forgiveness in the eyes of God. I have to support
magistros Michael Angelos – we are ready.
GABRIEL OF NEPHIN: I have to tell you, Your Grace, that I'm really glad that you are a member of this Council. It's such a pity that His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch wasn't as supportive of the Augustus decision as you are.
GONZALO OF SUTRI: Thank you,
sakellarios, though I believe the Augustus is going to choose a new Ecumenical Patriarch soon and then I won't be able to advice the Throne as much as I would like to, I'm afraid.
GABRIEL OF NEPHIN: Unless the Augustus will choose you.
GONZALO OF SUTRI: What can I say? God moves in a mysterious way. I'm sure-
EUNUCH: All rise in the presence of His Serene Highness, Venerable
Sebastokrator of the Imperium Romanum
porphyrogennetos Markos Angelos with his illustrious wife,
sebastokratissa Eupraxia Dalassenos!
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Brother! You... you honor us all by coming to the Council meeting. And you, my dear sister-in-law, beautiful as always.
EUPRAXIA DALASSENOS: Thank you, brother-in-law.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Why did we earn this honor? Is there something you would like to discuss with the Council?
MARKOS ANGELOS: Not exactly – you may sit, my lords. Me and me wife wish to hear more about internal and foreign affairs of the Imperium. I hope you have nothing against this.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Of course not, my brother, it would be a greatest-
MARKOS ANGELOS: Thank you. Don't allow yourselves to be interrupted, my lords – please continue.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Yes. Ahem.
Strategos, any news from the provinces?
ISAIAS MAKREMBOLITES: Peasants are arming themselves in Syria, demanding lower taxes. Catholic heretics have been active in Judea and Italia. And there is another Shia uprising in Abyssinia. Nothing the Imperial Army can't handle, my
kyrios.
GONZALO OF SUTRI: The followers of the Prophet must be destroyed – they are like cockroaches, always hiding somewhere even when one think they were finally eradicated. Deal with them,
strategos and show them no mercy. The Cross must be triumphant.
ISAIAS MAKREMBOLITES: Of course, Your Grace.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Great. Now, the Scrinium Barbarorum has prepared another report for us concerning barbarians.
GABRIEL OF NEPHIN: It does contain information about Germans this time, doesn't it?
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Yes. Since the treachery of kaiser Theodorich the matters his pathetic realm has been reclassified and now not
Dromos but
Skrinion Ton Barbaron gathers the intelligence about them. So, the barbarians.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Accursed Theodorich is on his deathbed – according to our agents he's dying. With his death there is a succession crisis expected to happen in Germany and his son without the authority of his father and support from the Imperium is going to have a hard time fighting German nobles. They pose no threat to us for now and they won't for a next few years. The Aztec savages are in a similar position. After the death of Tlacaeleltzin his son, Topli... Topilz... Topiltzin Acatl is now their supreme ruler. From what little information our spies have gathered, we have every reason to believe that he's a great warrior and leader. He's also a very dedicated worshipper of the Dark Gods – after his father's death he ordered a bloody ceremony when thousands were sacrificed.
GONZALO OF SUTRI: In nomine Patris et Filii...
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Luckily for us, he also have to deal with insubordinate subjects – he managed to finally make peace with the separatists three weeks ago but the liberation revolt in Africa is still going on. I would say that for now the Aztecs are busy with their internal tensions; it's rather unlikely that they would decide to attack us. The Mongols, on the other hand...
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Great Khan is still putting a lot of effort to deal with various factions and claimants. Barbarians are like animals – they respect only raw power. It will take some time before they are going to strike again though. With khagan being busy-
ISAIAS MAKREMBOLITES: With all due respect, we should never again underestimate them,
kyrios. They may be barbarians but the strength of the Horde doesn't lay in discipline but in numbers and even with superior soldiers, equipment and tactics we weren't able to stop them in time.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: It won't happen again. We can't just tolerate this Barghujin to siege our lands and call himself khan! We must-
EUNUCH: Her Serene Highness, Venerable Dowager Empress Ausilia Caetani!
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Grandmother!
MARKOS ANGELOS: It's pleasure to see you, grandmother. What are you doing here? Haven't you been in Italia?
AUSILIA CAETANI: I've just arrived in the City, my child - please take your seats, lords.
EUPRAXIA DALASSENOS: Your Serene Highness.
AUSILIA CAETANI: Spare me the formalities, my daughter – we're all family. I've visited your uncle in Tuscany. :coughs: He's very grateful that you convinced my son that your House should be granted this new
thema. :coughs:
MARKOS ANGELOS: Grandmother? Are you alright?
MICHAEL ANGELOS: You don't look very good – is it sea illness or bad food? I'll order to punish the servants if-
AUSILIA CAETANI: It's nothing, my dear. But tell me how's your father. Is everything alright? Any changes with Iulia?
MARKOS ANGELOS: Father is with her day and night but the Chief Physician says that
archiatroi did everything they could and all what's left is prayer.
AUSILIA CAETANI: Wise man – one can always find salvation in Our Lord. Poor Iulia... I pray for her since the sad news reached Rome.
ISAIAS MAKREMBOLITES: With all due respect Your Serene Highness, would you like to join this Council now or would you prefer that we take a short break and proceed after you-
AUSILIA CAETANI: As a matter of fact, I bring you the news which should be of interest to you all. :coughs: Laurentios Doukas has escaped.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: What? When!?
AUSILIA CAETANI: Just a while ago, I believe – I've heard the news from the captain of the City Guard who escorted me to the Palace.
ISAIAS MAKREMBOLITES: And they didn't notify us? Outrageous. Excuse me, but I have to deal with this immediately. My ladies. My lords.
MARKOS ANGELOS: This is... unexpected. I'll bring the news to my father. Come with me, my wife.
EUPRAXIA DALASSENOS:
Kyrios.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: This is unacceptable! This traitor must be caught and punished – we should've dealt with the Doukoi long ago. I'm sure-
AUSILIA CAETANI: The Augustus rules by the will of God and his own virtue, not by fear and tyranny, my grandson. House Doukas is powerful but even they must abide the law. He will be caught and justice will be served. Now, I would like you to announce a break – I have to talk with you. Alone.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: I... Of course. My lords, leave us now.
GABRIEL OF NEPHIN:
Kyria. Kyrios.
AUSILIA CAETANI: Just leave, please.
GONZALO OF SUTRI: As you wish, Your Serene Highness.
AUSILIA CAETANI: You too, eunuch.
EUNUCH PAKOURIANUS:
Kyria.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: :closes the door: All right, we're alone. What is so important that it cannot wait any-
AUSILIA CAETANI: You are the head of the Brotherhood, my grandson. Tell me, what are the words of your order?
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Words?
AUSILIA CAETANI: Your motto.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: “Victory. Vigilance. Martyrdom.”
AUSILIA CAETANI: Why these words?
MICHAEL ANGELOS: They describe our duties as the members of the Brotherhood. During war, victory. During peace, vigilance. In our final moments - martyrdom. Why are you-
AUSILIA CAETANI: Vigilance... yes. I have a very special order for you to carry.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Order? Only the Augustus himself can give us orders.
AUSILIA CAETANI: Your father gave me a special plenipotence to be used in case like this.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: What case? You're speaking vaguely.
AUSILIA CAETANI: My son sent me to there for a reason – or did you truly think I have nothing better to do than to visit family of yours sister-in-law? No, I was in Italia because there's a great danger to us all hidden in these lands. In every reconquered province, in every city and church there are libraries full of... poison.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: I don't follow.
AUSILIA CAETANI: Tell me, child – does the name of Thomas Aquinas sound familiar?
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Aquinas?
AUSILIA CAETANI: Duns Scotus? Francis of Assisi? Albertus Magnus? Bonaventure? :coughs: William of Ockham?
MICHAEL ANGELOS: I think some of them are Catholic philosophers but-
AUSILIA CAETANI: Some of them? They are
the philosophers. Heretics. Bishop of Rome himself called them “Doctors of the Church”. Their writings are full of blasphemy and vile thoughts. Immoral, impure... they have nothing in common with orthodoxy and teachings of the Holy Church. They are toxic to the soul. This is a deadly poison, a contamination of True Faith which must be eliminated or the of good Christians are going to be exposed to its corruptive influence.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: I-
AUSILIA CAETANI: There are already growing in numbers. Cathar sects, Catholic cults... The Brotherhood was created to protect the Imperium from barbarians but an equal threat is hidden within it. You know this. :coughs: Remind me, child, how do the members of your Order call the Aztecs and Mongols?
MICHAEL ANGELOS: We... we call them
xenoi.
AUSILIA CAETANI:
Xenos. The Alien. The Stranger. And why do you call them like this?
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Because they have nothing in common with Romaioi or Christians or even men. They are like animals, like ferocious beasts that have to be put down. Soulless monsters who worship their Dark Gods and sacrifice human hearts to their daemons... They must be stopped.
AUSILIA CAETANI: Yes. Very good. But the heretics threaten the Christendom just like
xenoi do and although they do not have the raw power of the savages from the Far West or the Horde they are dangerous. :coughs: Cunning, scheming against the Throne, with poison and dagger as their weapon they are no less an enemy for the Imperium than horse-lords are.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: Why are you telling me all this?
AUSILIA CAETANI: Listen to me, child. You will take few hundreds of the most loyal and pious members of the Brotherhood and you will sail to Italia. There you are going to find every single book, every single copy of these heretic writings and bring them all to Rome. :coughs: My servants have found a great place to store them until your task is done – the ancient circus known as Colosseum.
MICHAEL ANGELOS: I understand but... Grandmother? What shall we do when we gather all of these heretic books from libraries of Italia? What are the orders from my father?
AUSILIA CAETANI: Burn them. All of them.