WI: Nika Revolution in 532 AD

Magnum

In 523 AD the Nika Riots raged over the course of a week inside Constantinople, and saw the two major chariot racing teams, the Blues and Greens, with the backing of part of the Senate, unite and challenge Justinian. Membership of such a faction was about the only political outlet for the average Roman citizen, and the two factions encompassed many characteristics of political parties.

Should the revolt be successful and followed up by a succession of weak, easily manipulated emperors, could we perhaps see some kind of constitutional monarchy arise, with the blues and greens evolving into some sort of political parties who also happen to organize chariot races and teams (and not the other way around) and maybe have them integrated within the structure of the Senate (which, unlike in later centuries, was still an institution rather than a class of dignitaries) or, form a parallel judicial body, somewhat similar to the Assemblies in the Republic centuries before ?

This theoretical constitutional monarchy would then see a sort of balancing act between the Emperor, Aristocrats (Bureacracy and Senate) and Commoners with maybe a civil war or two until one of three things happen:

a. some sort of equilibrium (between eiter two or all three of them) is reached
b. one side becomes dominant
c. the entire structure collapses

I found the post below by Don Giorgio to be a pretty good summary of the OTL events.

Then there is also the ever present wiki page

What do you guys think ?

Οne more addition today... I will post the conversation between Emperor Justinian I and the faction of the Greens that sparked the "Nika Riots"
and a short naration of the Nika Riots.

This conversation is interesting since Justinian shows disrespect for the Greens (traditionally he was a supporter of the Blues) and chooses to answer them through a Herald (which in the end enraged even more the Greens) by whisperng the answers to him and the Herald shouted the Emperor's answer.


Greens: May you reign for many years over us Justinian Augustus tu vincas. Oh you most Noble we were wronged and we cannot bear this insult. God knows of that but we are afraid to name him who wronged us because we wont be safe after that.

Herald: Who is the man who wronged you? I know nothing of this!

Greens: The man oh thrice Augustus is with you in the Imperial Box

Herald: Who is he? We cant see him!

Greens: You know thrice Augustus who is the guilty!!! Its Spatharius Calopodius who wronged us!!!

Herald: Its impossible that Calopodius wronged you!

Greens: Yes he did and may he has the end of Judas Iscariot!!! May God punish him swiftly!

Herald: You have not come here to see me but to curse your lords!

Greens: If someone wrongs us he will have the end of Judas!!!

Herald: Oh shut up you worthless Jews!! Manichaists!!! Samaritans!!!!

Greens: You dare to call us Jews and Samaritans??? Virgin Mary is with us!!!

Herald: When will you shut up and stop cursing????

By that time the Greens have risen from their seats and shout even louder while some of them enter the Hippodrome's track... Justinian orders more Guards to enter the Hippodrome.

Herald: If you dont shut up i will arrest all of you and order your decapitation!!!!!!

Greens: We have to shout our misfortunes and your holy reign has to hear us!!! We will speak and reveal our misfortunes to you and we will not afraid neither you nor the Guards

Herald: You are free to present your petitions to me but you cannot curse the lords!

The Blues who by that time remained silent now start to mumble...

Herald: So you wont shut up!!! Even if i am about to kill you you wont shut up!

Greens: We will shout for our faction! And you are an injust judge! If we have done something wrong here we are punish us!! May you have never been born as the murderous son of Sabbatius!!!!
(Sabbatius was the father of Justinian I)

After this "blasphepmy" against the Emperor the Blues started shouting supporting Justinian I

Greens: You have killed them!!! (a refer to the charioteer's case)

Blues: You have killed them!! You Greens are Hippodrome's murderers!!!

Greens: Oh Lord Justinian the Blues shout against us and you wont touch them??? Tell us Emperor who killed Ksypolis in Zeugma???

Herald: You killed him!!!!!

Greens: Oh Emperor tell us who killed the son of Epafathus???

Herald: You killed him too and now you are trying to frame the Blues for this crime!!!!!

Greens: Oh Lord our God!!! How many lies!!!!!!

Herald: Oh you blasphemers and God-hated people when you will shut up???

Greens: If thats your way of ruling then we will shut up for now!!! But we know! We all know who are the murderers here!!! We better convert to Judaism or Paganism rather than support you and the Blues!!!!

Blues: We dont want to see what i hate!!! The Hippodrome is full of envy!

Greens: Whoever stays in the Hippodrome burn his bones!!!!

After this exclamation from the Greens riots began in the Hippodrome and the Guards clashed with the rioters while the Emperor was evacuated back to the Palace from a secret corridor escorted by his bodyguards and Senators...
Justinian was counting that the Blues who were stronger and bigger faction than the Greens would prevail easily and the riot would end in a few hours...
But the Praefect of the City Eudaimon made a mistake...
He arrested 7 of the rioters and sentenced 4 to decapitation and 3 to be hanged without asking first to which faction they belonged... of the 3 to be hanged 2 were Blues and one was a Green.
When the time for hanging arrived the hangman was drunk so he botched up the execution 3 times and the people started shouting for a miracle and that an amnesty should be given and when the Praefect refused a new riot broke out and the 3 people asked for sanctuary to the Monastery of St. Conon... And from there to the prison after the monks guaranteed for their safety till an appeal is filled to the Emperor.

On the next day when things seemed to have calmed the factions (this time united since they both had prisoners in the Emperor's hands) petitioned the Emperor to grant an amnesty to the 3 persons sentenced to death but the Emperor still mad from yesterday's insults refused to hear anything.

Then the united factions leave the Hippodrome shouting "Blues and Greens are united for mersy!!!" and then shouting "Nika" (aka you win)
head towards the Praefect's of the City office...
There they asked for the immediate release of the prisoners and upon the Praefect's refusal they set the office on fire, broke in the prison, kill the Guards and release the prisoners.

After that things take a turn for the worst and groups of armed citizens were walking around the city all night seeking nobles and officials to kill them...

In the morning the now armed mob gathered outside the Palace asking the removal of Spatharius Calopodius, the Praefect of the City Eudaimon, the Quaestor Ioannes Kappadokes and the Praefectus Praetorio Tribonianus.
Seeing the mob the Emperor reluctantly gave in to their demands and replaced all of these officials.
When Justinian presented the new officials to the mob they cheered for the Emperor and Justinian believed that the worst have passed...
But still the mob remained outside the Palace all night asking for amnesty for the 3 faction members sentenced to death...
In the morning the priests of Hagia Sophia came in an attempt to calm the situation and offer a peaceful solution to the problem...

But Justinian has had enough of that and bittered by his loss of prestige orders Belissarius to take the foreign mercenaries and attack the mob outside the Palace.
Belissarius does so but during the charge the foreign mercenaries kill the priests of Hagia Sophia and throw away the holy relics held by them.
This proved to be a critical mistake since a blasphemous and sacrilegious act like that enraged not only the mob but almost every citizen in the city... And suddenly the mercenaries were surrounded and overwhelmed by the mob while women stoned them from the roofs.
Belissarius orders a retreat to the Palace while the mob tries to prevent their retreat by setting fires to several buildings.... Senate was set in fire along with the Baths of Zeuxippus and with the help of the wind the fire spread to Hagia Sophia too...
The mercenaries entered the palace through the Chalke Gate which closed behind them and the mob unable to enter set fire on the nearby barracks of the Imperial Guards and burnt many of them alive.

Fires and anarchy continued for 3 days... Hagia Eirene, the Hospital of Euboulos, the Baths of Alexander, the Hospital of Sampson, mansions, villas. houses etc. all burnt down...

Meanwhile back to the Palace Justinian was in despair... He could count only in 8000 men to deal with the riots which by now have been turned into an open rebellion against him.
He dismissed the Senators from the Palace cursing them and calling them murderers and traitors.
But the crucial mistake was that Justinian in a fit of rage (by now he was seeing assassins everywhere) sent away Pompeius and Hypatius the nephews of Anastasius I... By this act Justinian gave to the rebellion what it was missing all time long... Leaders...

In the next day the Emperor decided to take a huge risk and talk directly to the rebels... he hadnt slept for 6 days in a row and he was in bad shape both physically and mentally...
So he entered the Hippodrome where the faction had their headqurters and through a secret corridor he went up the Imperial Box uncrowned and with the Gospel in hands he asked for forgiveness and promised an amnesty to all who would surrender... He continued saying "I am responsible for all of these vile acts me and only me... I was a sinner and my sins made me deny your petitions a week ago"...
A few people cheered for the Emperor but the vast majority started cursing him calling him an "ass", liar and a perjurer and started throwing stones on him...
Then the rebels went to Hypatius's home took him with them and in the Forum of Constantine they proclaimed him Emperor by raising him on a shield despite his protests that he was loyal to Justinian... Then they set him up in the Imperial Box of the Hippodrome while the rebels start making plans to storm the Palace...

In the meanwhile back to the Palace Justinian was sinking more to despair and depression... As soon as he returned from his failed visit to the Hippodrome he gave orders to load the Imperial Treasury to the ships and he got ready to flee the city, he also planned to announce his decision to the last meeting with his officers and Generals... Belissarius, Mundus, Constantiolus, Vasilides, Narses and Theodora who were the last to remain loyal to him...
But before Justinian speak Theodora intervened and with her famous speech about th Purple being a good shroud she convinced Justinian to stay and fight for his Crown...

This speech stroke Justinian like lightning... He "magically" regained his strength and ordered Belissarius to go to the Hippodrome and try and persuade the Guards to join them hoping that the General's personal prestige would do the trick... On the same time he gives Narses large sums of gold and Narses used them to bribe the Blues to change sides...
While Belissarius failed to persuade the Guards to join them (they prefered to remain neutral) Narses managed to bribe a lot of Blues and soon mayhem ensued in the rebels camp since the bribed Blues started cheering for Justinian again...
Then Justinian ordered one final attack to the Hippodrome... He sent archers to take places on roofs and then sent Belissarius with the Imperial Guards to attack the mob in Chakle Gate and push them back to the Hippodrome while Mundus with the mounted Guards woul attack them from the opposite side once they were inside the Hippodrome through the Gate of the Dead.
Belissarius was successful and when he had pushed them back he raised his sword.
This was the signal for the archers who then started firing arrows to the rebels while on the same time the mounted Guards under Mundus charged and started massacring them...
The carnage continued till sunset... The casualties are estimated in about 30000-50000 dead...
Hypatius was arrested by 2 of the Emperor nephews while his supporters fled without any fight and so was Pompeius...
Initially Justinian wanted to spare their lives but then Theodora intervened and convinced him to execute them... They were executed on the spot and their corpses were thrown to the Bosporus...
Then the nobles who had supported the rebellion were lead before the Emperor where the majority of them were executed and some others were exiled for life, while the Praefect of the City began investigations throughout Constantinople for any remaining rebels...
Click to expand...
 

Basileus Giorgios

Magnum said:
Should the revolt be successful and followed up by a succession of weak, easily manipulated emperors, could we perhaps see some kind of constitutional monarchy arise, with the blues and greens evolving into some sort of political parties who also happen to organize chariot races and teams (and not the other way around) and maybe have them integrated within the structure of the Senate (which, unlike in later centuries, was still an institution rather than a class of dignitaries) or, form a parallel judicial body, somewhat similar to the Assemblies in the Republic centuries before ?
Click to expand...

In short, no. Ideas of autocracy are too deeply welded into the system at this point for them to be easily reversed. There was a succession of weak Emperors in the fifth century, and no constitutional monarchy arose- same in the eleventh and fourteenth.

I can perhaps see Blues and Greens integrating themselves into the Senate, though. It's a stretch, but not impossible.
 

Magnum

Basileus Giorgios said:
In short, no. Ideas of autocracy are too deeply welded into the system at this point for them to be easily reversed. There was a succession of weak Emperors in the fifth century, and no constitutional monarchy arose- same in the eleventh and fourteenth.

I can perhaps see Blues and Greens integrating themselves into the Senate, though. It's a stretch, but not impossible.
Click to expand...


Faced with high taxes and badly handled wars, the english barons forced the Magna Carta on the King, while the Plebs in Rome often found ways during the early Republic to force issues against the will of the all-powerfull aristocracy (patricians).*

So why is it impossible for the power of the emperor to be limited by the influence of these two groups ? If the emperor was sacrosanct, they would not have revolted against him in the first place (notice how this took some time to develop in the collective conscience of the rioters -while ingrained, the habit of totally submitting to the all-powerful autocract isn't one that can't be gotten rid of under the right circumstances)

* - two examples off the top of my head
 

Basileus Giorgios

Magnum said:
Faced with high taxes and badly handled wars, the english barons forced the Magna Carta on the King, while the Plebs in Rome often found ways during the early Republic to force issues against the will of the all-powerfull aristocracy (patricians).*

So why is it impossible for the power of the emperor to be limited by the influence of these two groups ? If the emperor was sacrosanct, they would not have revolted against him in the first place (notice how this took some time to develop in the collective conscience of the rioters -while ingrained, the habit of totally submitting to the all-powerful autocract isn't one that can't be gotten rid of under the right circumstances)

* - two examples off the top of my head
Click to expand...

The English barons are a very different thing to the urban mob of Constantinople- and note that they didn't get rid of autocratic monarchs anyway, even if they did assert their rights. Anyway, both of your examples are from very different societies in different times. The central state in the sixth century Roman Empire is far, far stronger than it is in thirteenth century England or the archaic Roman Republic.

Don't get me wrong- Imperial power could be and would be influenced by the capital's urban mob, who quite often made and broke Emperors in the period. But the underlying system, of an all-powerful Emperor appointed by God, was never, ever seriously challenged in the Byzantine period, to my knowledge.

The idea of Nika causing a constitutional monarchy just seems very implausible to me- as implausible as the idea of, say, the assassination of JFK leading to the US developing a Byzantine-style divine autocracy.
 

Grouchio

Plus, Baselius is possibly planning to make his own Nika Riot PoD, isn't that right? (you saw my pm, right?)
 

Andreas

Basileus is right. Neither the structures nor the political ideology of the time leave space for such developments. The Senate's (limited) power came from the imperial institution, the land-possesing aristocracy at the time was fully aligned with the imperial institution. The mob of Constantinople never asked for a modification of the imperial institution: for a thousand years, all they asked for was just and capable emperors. Nevertheless, if something like Nika happened 6 cernturies later, then we could discuss developments like those proposed.
 
Aelita

Aelita

Andreas said:
Basileus is right. Neither the structures nor the political ideology of the time leave space for such developments. The Senate's (limited) power came from the imperial institution, the land-possesing aristocracy at the time was fully aligned with the imperial institution. The mob of Constantinople never asked for a modification of the imperial institution: for a thousand years, all they asked for was just and capable emperors. Nevertheless, if something like Nika happened 6 cernturies later, then we could discuss developments like those proposed.
Click to expand...
Revolutions have this tedency to start out with moderate aims, and then spiral wildly out of control.
 

Dathi THorfinnsson

Could the blues or the greens managed to have installed their guy as emperor? Sure. Not that hed likely last, but he could be there for a bit.

Could you get a parliament thing? Not going to happen, sorry.
 

Andreas

Jello_Biafra said:
Revolutions have this tedency to start out with moderate aims, and then spiral wildly out of control.
Click to expand...

true, but not on this occasion. There's a reason why there wasn't any revolutions in Byzantium, just uprisings and pretenders...

In fact, for the whole after Christ until late 18th c. period in Europe social revolutions occured only where there was a recent past pointing the way, and we had to reach the Age of Lights in order to see some new and solid political ideas that induced people into revolution. None of these factors occured in Byzantium, you need a period of refusion of the old institutions, and this could happen, but the prevailance of Cristianity absorbed the pressure on the political institution of the empire by reforming its political ideology and orientating people to other than political values.
 

Magnum

At one point I thought this thread would go nowhere, but thankfully there was some really good input.

To clarify:

By constitutional monarchy, I meant a system whereby there are certain written limits as to what actions an emperor may or may not take, generally by guaranteeing the rights of certain groups (in this case senators or the proto-parties of blues and greens). These groups then apply pressure so that the emperor doesn't cross those limits (whatever these may be), so that they maintain their own (limited) power. It's neither a democracy nor a system with a powerless monarch on top*.

Some emperors will be more powerfull, some will be weaker, but none should be able to permanently push these groups out of the political scene.

Getting rid of Justininan, controlling and the getting rid of Hypatius and a couple of guys after him might give the more influential leaders of both the senate and the blues and greens ideas, which they may follow through if pushed with their backs against a wall by a new, ambitious emperor.

Thus, the system would not result out of idealism or a new political ideology, but merely out of basic human feelings such as self-preservation, fear, lust for power and greed (and probably after a good civil war or two).

Emperors, like English kings, will still have power, wealth and glory, just that they won't be the only institution that matters (inclunding, in time, from a legal POV).


I never meant for the emperor to become the equivalent of a Queen Elisabeth II :D

* - although that may change many, many centuries later (if the state is still around).
 
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