Chronicles of the second Empire: a reborning Roman Empire TL

This is a magnificent TL! One I am happy to have discovered after the new updates! Please keep up the good work and note that you have one more person following it!
 
I guess that Khosrau could intervene in favour of the man who restored him as ruler of Persia.
And the Avars could also take advantage of the turmoil to invade and loot.

Well, it could be possible, or instead took advantage of the situation to invade the Roman cushion states... All is possible...

As for the Avars, i don't decide yet but i guess they will be relevant in some way...

This is a magnificent TL! One I am happy to have discovered after the new updates! Please keep up the good work and note that you have one more person following it!

Thanks, hope today or at least tomorrow to post the new update.
 
Chapter seventeen: And all the pieces reached their place…

The first years of the infancy of Eraclius passed between Rome and Costantinopole (but more the first, as the Empress decided to stay essentially in the Eternal City where she grew wanting her son lived here as well), surrounded by courtesans and other particular characters, such as Simplicius which become his praeceptor and Wulfila who in the free time teached him the basis of combat. Feeling the importance of his role despite the young age, and the growing tensions in the court, specially at Costantinople, he developed a quite introversial personality, passing most of his time to read a lot of books; however, he was well-liked by almost everyone for his manners and his meekness, which masked an hidden determination.

Eraclius had only eight years when her mother died in 603, probably for the stress caused by two failed births which weakened her gradually, even if till the end keep her dignity and continued to work for the Empire. Many historians of the time suggested it was a sort of Divine intervention which didn’t allowed to Juliana to have other sons who could usurped the future glory of the first; other suggested the plots of Phocas could have a certain effect on the premature depart of the Empress. However, Maurice didn’t searched another wife, considering sufficient having Eraclius as heir.

In her last months, Juliana developed a certain devotion to the Virgin Mary, involving also his son to his prayers. For Eraclius, as he admitted later in the “De Imperii Dei”, that period was determinant for his religion maturation while he liked the idea suggested by her mother to see the Holy Virgin as a “substitute mother” when her real was no more, in order to impetrate her his secrets, his dreams and his hopes in front of God. About this episode, later historians suggested the mystic delirium of the dying Empress pushed later the son to develop a his personal religious concept in his mind which lead him to have particular visions in extreme stressing moments, while the Christian believers don’t even put in consideration the hypothesis Eraclius could have problems of mental disorder.

It was however undeniable that in that period to alleviate the sufferance of the Imperial prince came in support the strong personality of the Pope of Rome Gregory, first of the name, having the honor to baptize him in the Lateran, who helped him to pass over that crisis with his counsels. The high prelate didn’t passed much time with the boy, as in the march of 604 he died as well, but he managed to forge the character of Eraclius, who promised to keep hard putting his fate in the hands of the Overlord and in the Holy Virgin, for everything the destiny had in mind for him.

But Gregory during his reign as Patriarch of Rome started also a great reorganization of the Roman Church, from the liturgy to the plainsongs to be used in the mass (and took his name in his honor), having epistolary relations with the main rulers, and giving great autonomies to the Benedectine order using them as a bulwark towards the Arian heresy; more simply, he acted as the rightful governor of all the Christian Church, or at least in Western Europe and in North-West Africa. The Gregorian reforms and his Papacy however marked even more the growing tensions between the Western and the Eastern parts of the Empire and between the Latin and Greek rites, because the not so veiled proclamation of the Patriarchate of Rome of his “moral superiority” into all the Church surely wasn’t approved by the Patriarch of Costantinople Ciriacus. In particular, there was attrition about the question of Greece and Moesia Superior, which were assigned under the supervision of Rome even if they were regions where it was diffused the Greek rite and later become part of the Eastern Roman Empire; and the Patriarchate of Antioch supported this claim as well, hoping to obtain as recognition to exercise its right over the Eastern lands ruled by the Persians. The seats of Jerusalem and Alexandria instead were more neutral to the matter, even if however they wanted still a balance between the Pentarchy and didn’t wanted to recognize the supremacy of Rome or Costantinople.

Maurice then tried to compose the situation calling in the 600 AD a Council in Thessalonica ( his bishop had the jurisdiction over Greece and Macedonia), the seventh in the history of the Church; respect to the previous meetings, it was essentially a debate over administrative issues, as the liturgical and heretical questions were putted in a second role. The Emperor seemed favorable to favor the patriarch of Costantinople considering the area of influence of Rome too large and in effected seemed logical that a Greek patriarchate controlled Greek-speaking regions, and Gregory initially agreed to relinquish his authority over Greece to favor the proposal to recognize the papal superiority over the other patriarchates, but the project failed when the Senators of Costantinople interfered in the question trying to put into their control the region of Dalmatia, which control was given to the Roman Senate.

To simply explain, Dalmatia, Moesia Superior and Greece were part of the Diocletianian Diocese of Illyricum, which was restored under the last war. However, as the entire sector was the main land border between West and East, Justinian and then Maurice confirmed the administration of Dalmatia to the Roman Senators ( such as for the Danubian region, Roman Gaul and Western part of North Africa as well), even if the Costantinopoliteans, and Phocas above all, had interest over that region ( control of lands, connection with Greek-speaking immigrants, essentially ex-soldiers, etc); so, they tried to use the works of the council at their advantage as claiming the rest of the Diocese as well. This created much trouble at Thessalonica, where the Emperor refused to alterate the balance of the Dioceses and also the Roman delegates protested, as Dalmatia was a largely Latin rite and Latin speaking region. To avoid the accusation of entanglements ( it seemed in effect they didn’t know nothing), the Greek Patriarchates didn’t support the Costantinopolitean proposal, claiming they didn’t know nothing of this plot; but the good outcome of the Council was compromised. Maurice tried then a last compromise proposing the formation of a sixth Patriarchate in Thessalonika, but Cyriacus refused considering Thrace and Greece proper both part of a “Great Hellas”; however, this created some attrition between the Greeks of Thrace and Anatolia, who had the majority in the Senate of Costantinople, and the Greeks proper, which will watched with satisfaction the rise of a "Patriarchate of Greece". In the end, the council concluded with a substantial status quo: Gregory promised to guarantee the Greek rite in Greece and to not meddle in the Eastern affairs, and Cyriacus promised the same regarding Dalmatia and the Western affairs. Maurice, even if he payed for his scarce preparation in theological and ecclesiastical matters, still was regarded as arbiter of the Church.

Returning to Eraclius, surely he will had a more lonely life, but a new inexpected turn of events made him met soon the two people who most influenced his destiny and that of the Empire as well. In fact, in the start of 604 the growing tensions in the Visigothic Kingdom because of the persist of the religious question escalated towards the open rebellion of the Arian nobles in Central and North Iberia, wanting to depose Theodatus to place instead the young Aristovicus and to give a final strict towards the Catholic population. Many believed, and they were right, behind the revolt the real responsible was Gunthelda, in order to affirm into the Kingdom the Arian supremacy but also to become regent of the son, even at cost to sacrifice her husband. However, in her plotting something went wrong, because the Southern part of Iberia with Toledo and the court remained loyal as well; and also in Gaul the governors of Aquitania and Septimania remained loyal (while Tolosa and the county of Novempopulana (1) sided with the rebels) to the legitimate King. Generally, the partial failure of the revolt was explained with the fear of part of the Visigothic nobility a civil war will weakened the Kingdom, and giving to Francia and above all the Empire to invade their lands, as Maurice in case of a violent deposition of the brother will be legitimate to claim the Crown of the Visigoths.

Gunthelda was somewhat forced to change her plans, declaring in the court that the voices about her participation in the rebellion were false, and she was always loyal to her royal husband. The position taken by the Queen in that situation gave more liberty of movement to Costance, who suggested to reinforce the position of the son to sent the nephew in the Empire, where he will received an education consonant to his heritage, and also to not give to the rebels the possibility to use him as a passive instrument for their fight. Gunthelda wasn’t hostile to this solution, because if Aristovicus grew as an Imperial prince, his claims to the Imperial crown will be enormely reinforced: after all, he was after Eraclius and his father the only male descendant of his uncle. Also, in case of victory of the rebels, she could claimed the regency for her son which was still in the Empire, so consolidating even more her personal power; so in the end accepted to the proposal but she requested a guarantee that in any case Aristovicus until he stayed in the Empire remained Arian.

Maurice, when the diplomats proposed this condition, accepted, because despite the past precedent of Julian the Apostate, he couldn’t forced a foreign visitor prince to convert to the Christian Orthodoxy, even if he was his nephew, and also in the despicable event the rebel won, hosting the person which in any case will the future King could allow to keep at least correct relations between Romans and Visigoths. So, a delegation composed essentially by Arian Visigoths at the hidden order of the Queen, but also by some Roman nobles loyal to Costance, reached Rome in the winter of 604, and taking place in a wing of the Palatine complex, almost returned after years of work ( generally taken when the Emperor was in Rome, because the main administration in Costantinople didn’t give many subsides to restore the old buildings and monuments of the Eternal City) his original splendor before the sack of 410. The delegation, even if for the first times wanted to remain isolated, soon was involved in the court intrigues as well…

In fact, Phocas and his supporters started to approach in secret the Visigoths near to the Queen to search new allies; when Gunthelda was informed, she decided to made a double game supporting with great discretion both the opposing sides: in fact, she couldn’t allow to let usurp the Imperial throne to the first newcomer at disadvantage of her son, and hoped, when a civil war exploded in the Empire, both Maurice and Phocas resulted very weak so to take the good opportunity at the right moment. So, she decided to use her authority to conclude the more fast possible the rebellion in her nation, sending letters to the leaders to search a compromise with the King. The war lasted until the Autumn of 606, because Theodatus decided to not request the help of Roman forces but to use the loyal armies still at his disposal: this convinced part of the rebels to submit, seeing their ruler wasn’t a Roman puppet after all and so are willing to continue to serve him, however this forced the loyalists to a war of attrition, as the rebels took positions in the mountain chains of Iberia; and when the city of Legio (2) in Gallegia, main theatre of the enemy operations, fell, the rebellion was considered concluded, even if Tolosa continued to resist until the March of 607: the city was sacked as punishment, so starting its decline in Visigothic Gaul in favor of the Atlantic port of Burdigala, which instead found a new mportance thanks to the growing naval traffic to the North Europe, where the first Saxon, Mercian, French and Wessex merchant vessels started to move in the Ocean as their nations become more civilized by the time.

Theodatus adopted a conciliatory path towards the rebels, confirming in their roles who accepted to submit to the Royal authority in the first phases of the war, while in the religious situation decided to confirm the status quo between Catholics and Arians, with the advantage of the firsts because for now the persecutions ceased for now. Gunthelda even suggested to someone of the most high ranked rebels to convert for now to Catholic Orthodoxy, in order to obtain the Royal grace the soon as possible; after all, Theodatus resulted more physically weak after fought in first line for two years: the Arian supremacy could be imposed in a second moment…

However, even if the civil war in Iberia was concluded, Aristovicus remained for now in the Empire, in part to continue his education here and in part for his will. Eraclius didn’t have the opportunity to talk directly with his cousin, because the Visigoths conduced a very retired life in the palace as suspicious of their hosts and meddled into the court intrigues, so for some weeks he couldn’t have his company as he hoped. One day, even if he was a cold but beautiful morning, after that the previous day a snowstorm hit the city (and the Emperor was out to control the damages) the Imperial prince decided to go in the gardens to read a papyrus of the “Ab Urbe Condita” of Livy for study but also for his delight. Suddenly, from the woods arrived a snowball who hit him from behind! Looking behind with surprise and also a bit of anger, Eraclius noticed a young girl of about his age, who he never seen before. After giving her excuses ( she launched the snowball trying to hit a near wood), she presented herself as Alessia, daughter of the Iberian Roman Patrician Tiberius Aufidius, coming along with the Visigoth delegation. She explained she reached Rome few days ago, after her mother died in Spain and his father was the only alive relative to take care of her. Soon, the two started to talk about Livy and his histories, when they noticed a person behind the woods as well: it was Aristovicus, who didn’t resisted anymore to remain closed in a lavish rooms, and managed to escape without be noticed; then he saw Alessia, who was presented to him the day before by her father, and followed her through the gardens. Eraclius then proposed to stay with them, and the red-eyed boy, who in a first moment declined, after very prayers accepted to stay in their company. All of three talked a bit about Livy, the greatness of the Romans and of the Empire, and then started a snow fight. They were happy.

Later the three were discovered, after that everyone searched them for hours. This generate a violent debate in the court, with the Visigoths delegates complaining about the inefficient of the internal security, and the Romans courtesans replying their isolationist mood was offensive, while Maurice tried to settle the question. To solve the question intervened Eraclius, assuming the fault of the entire situation as the other two lads followed him who escaped for first from his rooms, but he requested that the two become companions of study: Aristovicus, who for pride ( finding humiliant the cousin took his defence for something he wasn’t culprit) initially seemed to refuse, but the gentle moods of Alessia convinced him to accept, even if he will never admit he was glad of the decision. The Visigoths, seeing the Emperor approved, in the end accepted to let their prince more free in his movements, because in the end they will complied to her Queen’s orders to make so that he will regarded on the same plan of the Imperial Prince.

So, the three started to pass their time together, passing in serenity some years, with the lessons of the preceptor Procopius, and the training given by Wulfila; and soon they were reached by the little son of the older sister of Eraclius, Simplicius (son of a Greek general not Thracian but of Hellas proper, so not connected to the Eastern Senate and even if he fought at the orders of Phocas, was loyal to the Emperor), who become very attacked to the group. Sometimes, to visit them came the son of Bagha and Myra, Marcellus, but generally the boy was very occupied to the forge of the father and to become talented as him...

However, while Eraclius in the years become more secure of himself, Aristovicus was often tormented and generally more serious, without explaining why; surely, a certain influence from his advisors who by continue pushed him to not forget him who he was ( an Arian prince of the Visigoths destined one day to rule his Kingdom, and if God wanted one day maybe also the Roman Empire), and the letters her mother, who was more attached sent to him often, contribuited much to grow his doubts.

However, while they lived a serene life for almost four years, generally in Rome and sometimes in Costantinople, the tensions which Phocas and the Costantinopolitan Senators loyal to him continued to enlarging day by day, and Maurice getting older tried to contain with crescent difficulty, reached a point of total rupture which exploded the 15th August of 608…

(1) OTL Aquitaine between Garonne and the Pyrenees.
(2) OTL Leon.
 
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Arrix85

Donor
Good as always! maybe it was obvious for everyone else, but now seem clearer who are the two men fighting in the prologue: Eraclius and Aristovicus(?). About the others:

older woman->Guthelda
younger woman->Alessia(?)
saxon warrior->Wulfila
arabian-dressed semitic man-> ?
benedictine monk -> ?
oriental woman-> ?
 
Well, in effect the majority of the characters already appear, others will appear in the next chapters, however i can reveal generally that the lapse of time between 608 and the first prologue will cover principally the first quarter of VII century.

Meanwhile, i will reveal at this point ( and i promised to reveal, but i hoped someone recognized it) the novel which insipired me the POD: the Man of Law's Tale in the Canterbury Tales of Chaucer, here's the wiki reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_of_Law%27s_Tale

The Italian wiki reference is a bit more (and only present) detailed in the summary:

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Il_racconto_del_Sergente_della_Legge

As you can see, i reutilized and reshaped the story to my narration, and from here i took the characters and the names of Costance and Maurice; and, for historical assonance to OTL, also for future events in the plot, to the legitimate successor of Maurice i gave the name of Eraclius.
 
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Intermission Two

Extract from ”Society, Economy, Culture in the Roman Empire during the Dark Years”

The Roman civil war between the loyalist forces of Eraclius and that rebel of Phocas was the epilogue of the failure of an administrative reform tried by Maurice to keep united the Empire without recurring in the future to split again it in two as already happened in the past, through the consolidation of the two Senates in their spheres of influence, but always under the orders of a single Emperor. Basically, the revolt was the result of the refusal of the Greek high spheres in Costantinople to lend away part of the power acquired when since the official split in the Empire, and consolidated when the Western part fell in 476, so starting that period of Roman history known as the “Dark Years (1)”, term created more later when the historians looked it as an age when Western Europe become prey of the barbarians and all the culture and the developments created in that part of the World were considerate lost or compromised.

In truth, the Dark Years today weren’t considerate so negative, as the barbarian devastations after all were less of that narrated later, and the new peoples soon adopted part of the old culture or accepted the conversion to Christianity, both in its Orthodox that in its Arian form. Also, thanks to the works of the Benedectine monks, which monastical complex grew considerably in these years, great part of the writings of the Classical age were saved; but naturally the most important place of conservation was still Rome, where part of its libraries were still active after the sack of 410: many historians suggested however that probably that treasure (among with other monuments of the past) will be lost if during the Gothic wars Totila managed to capture the Eternal City. Some problems came however later from the Church, where Gregory tried, and was forced to desist by an Imperial halt, to destroy texts not coherent with the Christian morality of the time. So, many works of Latin writers were conserved till today. While Rome confirmed its role of cultural lighthouse of the West, Costantinople instead suffered of the effects of the revolt, which damaged severely the city and part of its libraries, with consequent loss of many books written in Greek.

Despite all, the Second Rome was still more populated than the First (however surely the most populated city of all Western Europe), because Rome still didn’t recovered fully after 410 (and the Gothic wars didn’t helped to its repopulation, even if the city was preserved, as many preferred to live in more safe and health places, and even if part of the aqueducts were restored, the thermal complexes and the fountains were largely inactive, except for that of Caracalla and of Diocletianus, however damaged as well) while the primary economical and political role of Costantinople helped it to absorb fast the costs and the damages of the civil war). However, apart for those were surely the two populated, largest and main cities of the Empire, in the end of the Sixth century the signs of a reurbanization in Europe were evident, as in that period there weren’t large external migrations to menace the various countries of Europe risen on the ruins of the First Empire, while the continent aside for some important wars, the plagues from the East and located conflicts in some regions remained essentially in peace; however, the constant fear of attacks from any side forced the various cities ( was to remember in the ancient Empire the sites in the internal provinces didn’t have walls, and also this contribuited to their devastation in the times of the devastation) to build defensive walls, the more strong as possible; so, in the West many Roman monuments in solid rock were progressively dismounted in order to reutilize the materials for defensive structures. The principal monuments to be dismounted were essentially the amphiteatres and the theatres, even if part of them continued to be active for popular distractions as the bullfighting ( the crisis of the Empire blockaded the market of exotic preys such as lions, jaguars, and elephant, so the organized pointed more to the local faune), which recieved great approval in Visigothic Spain, South Gaul and in Central Italy.

In theory, the cities in the Empire and the surrounding countries will be governed by emissaries chosen by the two Senates, but in various cases it was preserved the civilian autonomy of these realities; in other cases, the civilian sectors started to look towards a more stable and a supposed politically neutral authority such as the local bishop, above all in the West, giving the possibility for the Church to gather land concessions, which in the time continued slowly but gradually to increase. In the principle, these concessions were allowed to permit a certain degree of auto sufficiency to the local ecclesiastic authorities, but by the time, when the economy gradually returned to be based on exchanges of currency, and above all after the events of reforms following the birth of the Second Empire, many bishops, supported by Rome, started to buy or to convince their followers to sell land of them giving origin to the so called “temporal domains” of the Church, and so creating the basis for the future tensions between the ecclesiastical and the Imperial authorities.

The Imperial control into the various Dioceses was however guaranteed by the role of the governors, the protection assured by the Legions, and the still high competency of the administration, which respect to the Old Empire (2) had to control less land while the two Senates helped to coordinate in autonomy the West from the East and vice versa. And as in the past, the armed forces were still one of the main vehicle of social cohesion between the various ethnical peoples and of diffusion of the two main languages.

The art suffered very much, as the artists of the time were called more to preserve or reutilize the ancient buildings than to construct new monuments; however, the ancient Templar style of the pagan sites was definitively abandoned in favor of the Basilica style adopted for the construction of new ecclesiastical buildings, even if in the West was favored the Latin cross plant while in the East of course the Greek cross. The differences continued so also in architecture as well. The sculptures and the paintings of the period, also for loss of techniques by the time, lose the realistic and plastic style of the classical age in favor of more stylized, ieratic, and static figures. However, the debate for the preservation or destruction of the pagan temples ( and about the various statues still intact, such as the wonderful, giant Venus in the Temple of Rome and Venus) still continued at Rome, until the policy imposed by Eraclius on the matter concluded the issue definitively…

(1) Naturally, the OTL definitions of OTL historical ages changed as well; 476 surely was viewed as an important date, but not as the conclusion of the Classical age… To better explain, the period between 476 and the first part of VII century is viewed as the “decline of the Classical age”.
(2) As “Old (or First) Empire” generally is considered the Roman Empire from Augustus since this period; in this TL Western and Eastern Empires were not considered by historians two independent entities but more as “separated in the same house”; this idea was reinforced after the Italian restoration under Justinian, as Italy with Rome was still considered the focus of the Western part.
 
I doubt that the enmity between the Greeks and the Latins will end after the civil war.
A solution could be a new division of the Empire with the borders of 395.
 
Chapter Eighteen : The rise of the “last” Roman Emperor…

Rome, 12th September 608 A.D.

The people of the Eternal City gathered outside their houses to see the arrival of the Imperial prince Eraclius and of his supporters from the Appian gate, after the news coming from Costantinople about the revolt, the death of the Emperor Maurice and the self-imposition of Phocas as his successor. The usurper sent few days before the arrival of the prince his envoys to request the submission of Rome, of his bishop, of the Western Senate, and of the rest of Italy; but the senators, loyal to the house of Justinian and fearing to be deprived of their authority in favor of their Greek counterparts, refused; and the bishop Bonifacius IV, not wanting to submit to an Emperor who clearly favored the patriarchate of Costantinople, decided to excommunicate him, recognizing immediately the son of the previous ruler as legitimate Emperor. The Senate of Rome however was more cautious yet, deciding to wait until the arrival of the Prince, as he claimed from a letter wrote few hours ago his escape from Costantinople.

In effect, after recovering from his faint, Eraclius started to write letters to all the key-role characters into the Empire, from the governors of the dioceses to the army commanders, through the patriarchs. His activity, surely underestimated by his enemies, permitted him to form a solid base to stop the ambitions of the usurper. Reaching Thessalonika few days after leaving Costantinople, he managed to convince the governor of Greece to remain loyal to him, and from here to contact the rest of the Empire. In effect, the Greeks proper didn’t saw a better advantage to side with the rebels and the usurper, also because of the religious issues emerged after the council of Thessalonika; in short terms, while the Patriarchate of Rome at least will recognize a certain degree of autonomy to the Greek Church, there was the concrete fear that of Costantinople will centralize the order under its direct role. Also, the Greek patricians didn’t enjoyed so much to be submitted, or to better say, be “second” to the Greeks of Costantinople, of Thrace, Moesia and Anatolia ( where came the principal support to the rise of Phocas to the purple), hoping that Eraclius, in case of victory, open the Eastern Senate to them in exchange of their support to the loyalists.

Eraclius soon obtained the loyalty also of Vandalia, the Northern Danubian regions and of Roman Gaul, and naturally of Italy and Rome: in few words, the Latin part of the Empire sided with the legitimate heir of Maurice. More difficult was the situation in Dalmatia, where Phocas sent as one of his first acts part of his troops to submit immediately the region; the loyalist resistance was soon forced to concentrate around the cities, above all in Spalatum, while the campaigns fell mostly in the rebel hands. The forces of Phocas failed however to achieve a fast submission of Dalmatia as the usurper was soon forced to fight over other fronts opened thanks to the diplomatic activity of the Prince. Aside with the Dalmatian and the Greek fronts, quite unexpectedly Egypt sided with the loyalists. In fact, the dominant Copt church in Egypt feared that the victory of Phocas could bring to the imposition of the Greek Orthodox rite in the region in order to finally win the decisions of the council of Chalcedon of 451 and eradicating the Monophysitism and of consequence concluding the autonomy of the Patriarchate of Alexandria. In effect, despite the religious clashes of the previous centuries, the Copt Church at the start of the seven century finally managed to unite almost all the Egyptians in a unique rite, thanks to the benevolent neutrality of the Imperial court (in order to have a stable and loyal Egypt) and giving them the convincement of a new “ethnical” identity which allowed the possibility to be at least “autonomous” from both Rome and Costantinople. The second revolt of Nika was however forged among the various reasons in the name of the superiority of the Patriarchate of the Second Rome over the other; which was unacceptable for Alexandria. Eraclius, who despite the young age was very interested towards the ideological issues of Christianity, wasn’t so hostile towards the Copts, because for him the main line between heresy and orthodoxy was the acceptation of the divinity of Christ and the principle of consubstantiality between God the Father and God the Son; so, he had a more open mind towards the Greek positions. It was also truth that the Prince invoked the same the unity of the Churches, in order to put down the internal divisions born after Chalcedon, but he wanted first to solve the problems caused by Arianism, which was very strong in Saxon Germania and in the Visigoth Kingdom, and tried to impose also in Britannia through the Mercian expansionism. Eraclius was worried about the possible development of an Arian block of countries around the Western part of the Empire, which considered more exposed to hostile attacks respect to the East, and his decision to stop this tentative will guided his political, diplomatic and military decisions after the civil war.

The Romans welcomed with great expectations the Imperial Prince and his (not so great) retinue; among them, it caught the attention a well guarded chariot with a chest, adorned with Greek crosses. The local population loved him, as he was the first heir to the purple born in the Eternal City after centuries, so seeing in that event a sign of great fortune for him and themselves. Also, many were impressed by the change of the color of his eyes, now turned to a brilliant silver similar to that of the moon after recovering from a faint during his escape from Costantinople, and various voices of every type already scattered about that event; despite all, Eraclius never said to nobody what really happened, neither to his friends. Despite all, the populace seemed oriented to considered it a good sign of divine benevolence. However, a hidden sense of fear was present in that moment: if Rome supported Eraclius and Phocas won the civil war, the city will be surely razed and its dream to return to be the only capital of the Empire will vanished forever.

Eraclius reached soon the Curia in the Roman Forum, seat of the Senate of the West. Before entering the building he watched around the plaza which was once a time the center of the known world: the main sites were still intact, but showed signs of abandon and devastation. Rome still didn’t recovered yet from the sack of 410. Into the Senate, its members greeted him with high honors, but a violent debate started immediately when Eraclius requested to be recognized as Emperor. Even if the loyalty towards the house of Justinian was out of question, the senators didn’t like to give the purple to a child: the precedent of Romulus Augustulus was still vivid in the memories of all the Italics, and they preferred to choose one of the husbands of his sisters ( someone even thought of Aristovicus, but his Arian beliefs compromised his candidature and it also seemed that the boy, called on the matter, immediately refused defending the rights of his cousin), but also recognizing to the young the title of Caesar and affirming his rights through the adoption from the elected Emperor. Eraclius opposed this statement, affirming that both the Senates, since the last Persian war, didn’t yet reached an agreement about the succession system ( the Persian war, then Maurice’s wedding, and lastly the birth of his child, stopped the debate between birth right and adoption); and however he claimed to be capable to hold the power, despite his young age, considering that in the Empire’s golden period he would be considered near to adulthood. As a compromise, he offered that Wulfila and Procopius will helped him as tutors until the reaching of his sixteenth year. The senators however were still undecided, not wanting especially to give so much power to a barbarian; the precedents of Sthilico and above all of Odoacer worried them really much. The situation was landocked until they were informed about a sudden request: the Imperial princess and mother Queen mother of the Visigoths Costantia asked for an audience!

Costantia returned in Rome in the same period of Eraclius, as the consequence of the conclusion of the Visigothic civil war. In fact, the Arian nobles and part of the rebels in the final phases of the conflict told to the King that one of the motives of major instability in the Kingdom was the underground grudge between the Arian queen and the Catholic queen mother. Naturally, it was Gunthelda to sow disorder in the court and in the country, but it was instilled in Theodatus the suspect that Costantia plotted to open the road of the throne to his first son and his nephew; and the fact his way slowly but unmistakably his wife was going to dominate him helped quite much to put the Queen mother in disgrace. Costantia then agreed to relinquish her titles and to retire in Rome, under the reassuration that the Catholic population in Spain will be preserved; and in effect, for some years a truce between Arians and Catholics resisted, essentially because the Kingdom needed to heal from the wounds of the civil war and Aristovigus remained in the Empire to assist his cousin. Theodatus was reconfirmed only King of the Visigoths, but de facto Gunthelda was going to become the real ruler as her husband was very weak in his will.

Costantia was already in voyage towards Rome, when the news of the second revolt of Nika and of the death of Maurice reached her; and she arrived in an Eternal City in a state of tension. The civilian officers managed to keep the order, but the population was worried for the imminent conflict, considering also the Patriarchate of Rome was still without a leader for also a year, since the death of Bonifacius III in the November of 607. That Pope put previously more clear rules over the Papal elections, in order to reduce the most possible the external influences. Maurice, specially from the reign of Gregorius Magnus, was more willing to give more freedom of action to the Roman clergy in exchange for loyalty towards the Imperial dynasty, so he generally avoided any attempt of influence on the matter. Unlike Justinian before and Eraclius later, Maurice didn’t fully meddled in the ecclesiastic debates ( more worried about the conflicts which engulfed the Empire in his years) wanting to mark more a principle of disengagement between the Purple and the Cross and to recognize more a state of autonomy between the Pentarchy, and the council of Thessalonika was more centered to trying solving issues of internal organization than to restart the ecumenical dialogue; but this attempt provoked the growing anger of the patriarchate of Costantinople, which believed that policy favored however Rome and Alexandria, and of consequence favored its alignment with Phocas.

The arrival of Costantia helped quite much to restore order in Rome, and with her charisma coming from her lineage and her history ( she had already fame of saint within the population), she convinced the roman curia to elect the 25th of August as new pope Bonifacius IV, who was more loyal to the Imperial house respect to the precedent pope, who was in talks with Phocas and more willing to support a change of power in exchange for more stability in the Empire. Eraclius was informed of the new news from Rome and recognized immediately the new Patriarch, who as reply the 4th of September excommunicated Phocas as an usurper, so bringing all the Western Church to recognize the imperial prince as legitimate heir to the Empire prior to the Senate, helping him by consolidate his positions in the West and at the same time de facto posing the basis for the new Imperial elections later developed by the same Eraclius.

Eraclius saw his grandmother few times during some brief visits in Rome during the Easter celebrations, and still impressed him with her grace, her innate nobility, and her strong personality; and she aged very well despite all her past troubles. Costantia took position in favor of his nephew, supporting his claims in name of legitimacy, and claiming in name of the current patriarch of Rome the Western Church recognized already him. The decisive blow was given by Eraclius, who promised that in case of victory, the Senate of the West will be returned the only legitimate in all the Empire and Rome the rightful capital. The promises of the prince were really persuasive and the prestige of Costantia was so great within the senators, who finally proclaimed Eraclius rightful emperor but only after with her as regent, and at condition that Wulfila didn’t be proclaimed Magister Militum as the young prince wanted. That role was instead given to the current prefect of Italy, Smaradgus (1), who was Greek but loyal to the House of Justinian even if he was previously removed from the same charge in 585 by Maurice because of his intransigence towards some bishops rebelled towards Rome, and restored only in 602 as the most competent imperial advisor to govern Italy.

Whatever, Eraclius was recognized Augustus of both West and East Roman Empires (the Roman senators were quite happy to invest him of the full title after years of humiliations from Costantinople), and few hours later was blessed in the Cathedral of St. Johannes in Lateran by the Patriarch, while couriers started to spread from the city to all the rest of the Empire (even towards the rebelled dioceses) that the legitimate Emperor reigned in Rome and was ready to restore peace and order.

With the coronation of Eraclius, the reign of the last Emperor of the Old Empire started…

Domus Augustiana, night between the 12th and 13th September

Bagha and his son Marcellus were escorted towards the Aula Regia, to meet the new crowned Emperor: Eraclius expressed their own presence before possible. Both of them were impressed to the solemnity of the ambient; the Imperial Palace of Rome almost returned to its former splendor after years of reconstruction, even if the various fresco were still neglected, the furniture in the rooms scarce, the numerous niches empties; the majority of the numerous statues and the furniture in the complex was destroyed during Totila’s siege to be used as weapons, and despite the efforts of Justinian and Maurice, the palace still today remained more “spartan” respect to its equivalent in Costantinople.

Father and son were introduced into the Aula Regia; in the opposite of the large room, one of the most large of the known world , under the large niche in the center of the wall, stood a young boy covered in a purple mantle and a crown of laurel on his head, sitting on a golden throne (their last commission from the precedent Emperor) adorned by two eagles looking one to West and one to East; the light of the torches made his silver colored eyes more brilliant than usual. The two bowed in front of Eraclius, who offered them to seat near to him. Bagha was the first to talk.

Augustus, we are truly honored of this invitation, and we wanted to express our vows for the success against the usurper… And to declare our condolences for your father.”

“ Thanks, my friends. The grief for my loss is still great, but now… I must be ready to surpass it. However, I’m still sad he couldn’t saw a last time Rome… he deserved the right to sit once in this throne. By the way, it is really splendid. And above all, comfortable.”

“ Thanks, Augustus. But I’m sure your father will be glad that you sit on in his place. Besides, I suspect that you didn’t called us only to compliment with us about the realization of the throne…”

“In fact, I have a new work for you.”

Eraclius remained silent for a moment, as his request seemed something of really special even to ask.

“ I wanted that you forge an Imperial crown.”

Both the smiths were quite surprised. A crown! They expected to be commissioned for a sword, an armor, or something related to the imminent conflict… But the face of the Emperor was calm. They believed in him, and they knew there was a logical explanation for that request. Bagha broke the silence.

“ We will be glad to accept the task, but in our workshop we didn’t have sufficient gold to create it, and I guess all your resources will be used for the war…”

“ Don’t worry for this. The crown will not be made of gold or adorned by jewels. I already have almost all the materials necessary and the rest will come soon from Milan.”

With a gesture of his hand, Wulfila came with the chest on the chariot watched at sight. Inside it, there was a quite ancient helm. Bagha didn’t saw it before, but he recognized it from the narrations he heard over.

“ This is…”

“ The helm of Constantine donated by Saint Helene, offered to Theodoricus when he conquered Italy and returned to us after the liberation of the peninsula. In its intern are placed two of the three nails used for the crucifixion of Christ; the third is actually into the bit of the horse of my predecessor actually located in the Basilica of Saint Ambrose at Mediolanum.”

Marcellus was the first to understand.

“ You wanted us… to forge a crown with the three nails as material?”

Eraclius nodded.

“ But… The holy nails weren’t relics of great importance? The Church…”

“ I already talked with the Patriarch of Rome and the Mother Empress over this matter” Eraclius was really glad to gave her grandmother the title she really deserved for ages as one of his first acts. “ Both of them agreed over my request. A letter signed by Bonifacius was already on route to Mediolanum to give the bit to my envoys; when all the nails will be removed, both the bit and the helm will return in St. Ambrose and the basilica will receive a rich donation from me.”

Marcellus was partially relieved, but he asked a more simple but crucial question.

“ But… why?”

“ Because things are changing. They are already changed. The Empire was founded on pagan basis, but now is based on the word of Christ. The Emperor could be also be proclaimed by the Senate or by the armies, but without the intercession of God is only a petty tyrant. The real proclamation could only came from him, and later by the men.”

Eraclius stopped for a moment to reordinate his thoughts.

“ I want to consecrate the entire Empire and the rank of Emperor in the name of God. Christianity is the only support and at the same time the only force which could now keep together the Italics with the Greeks, the Gauls, the Egyptians, and the other people of this great country. And the Emperors must protect this force becoming part of it.”

Bagha didn’t understood all the implications of the projects of his lord. After all, he didn’t convert yet to Christianity and he didn’t have so much knowledge over the religious issues in the Empire.

“ But… There were already Christian emperors, as your father and your grandfather before you…”

“ Yes, but their power was based essentially on civil basis. I want my power will be based also on religious basis. After all, the term Augustus was originally religious… And it is time to restore that meaning. The crown that will you forge will become both a symbol of civil and religious authority.”

Marcellus trembled, a bad thought crossed him.

“ That will means… that you will take the command of the entire Church?”

“ No. That’s not my duty or my destiny. Give to Caesar that it’s of Caesar… My power will be related but not dominated or going to be dominated by the Church, as the Emperor will be in first line a civil power. However, the Church must have a leader. Christ was clear on that matter: the Church must be governed by Peter, and so by his successors. The Bishops of Rome. The Patriarchs of the West. The Popes.”

The expression of Eraclius become more hard suddenly.

“ However, first I needed to restore peace into the Empire. I want to leave to the front when the crown is completed.”

Bagha and Marcellus then immediately reflected how to create the crown, to give a immediate answer to Eraclius. Marcellus replied for first.

“ With three nails, there is an only type of crown that we could create…”

The Emperor interrupted him again.
“ A diadem. Yes, I came into the same solution. The future crown of the Roman emperors will be a simple circle of iron, without any type of decoration. With also a simple crown of laurel, it will become the mark of a new age.”

“ Well, then when the third nail arrived from Milan we will start immediately to build that crown made of iron.”

Eraclius suddenly smiled, as an inspiration hit him.

“ The Iron Crown (2)… I like this name.”

(1) Because Italy was still united under Imperial rule, the Exarchate never formed and the Diocesan system still existed for now; however, in this TL the Exarches of Ravenna for now coincided with the role of the Prefects of Italy.

(2) Here I mixed legend and history for the narration purpose… In this TL, the OTL Iron crown will be formed by all the three nails used to crucifix Christ instead by only one.

A/N: I’m not dead, yet! And finally I restarted again to write my stories. I guess that summer and autumn aren’t for me the most productive seasons… Because that of the Roman empire was the more longest in hiatus, I will restart from it. The rinascimental Italy TL will follow soon, and I will continue also the alternative fascist Italy TL. Sadly, instead the Italy Kaiserreich TL is considered closed while the for the double Italy/USA TL I hope soon or later to start a v2. Whatever, meanwhile enjoy this new chapter!
 
The situation in the Fall of 608, when the various regions of the Empire chose their side:

Europe Fall 608.png
 
Chapter Nineteen: “Honor your father…”

More years later, in Rome…

The child ran into the halls of the Domus Augustana, trying to escape from his pursuer. His grey eyes similar to two moons looked behind, almost sure he was safe. So, he didn’t notice to going against an obstacle as usual; in that case, it wasn’t a statue or a vase but a taller man, covered by a large mantle.

“You should be more cautious, Caesar Emanuel (1).”

“Sorry, Constantine (2)… I was running away.”

“From who?”

“From my uncle… Today is teaching me Greek. Because I don’t like so much that language, I managed to escape while he was arguing with Wulfila about the fact the new recruits of the guard were too inept to train… He said after the reunification the new generation of Romans became too much relaxed with the story of the millenarian kingdom.”

“These are the effects of the peace your father and your mother managed to create. But Wulfila is wrong when he says the Romans loss their spirit. When the Empire is in danger, they find their courage and the will to fight.”

The boy nodded, then a doubt assaulted him: “Constantine… Do you really think we are already in the times of the millenarian kingdom?”

“The Church says so. But sincerely I don’t know. I’m not into theological disputes, I’m a soldier and an administrator first. I didn’t had the opportunity to talk with the Holy Mother of God either.”

“So, I must ask my father to have an answer.”

“This is the most reasonable solution, Caesar. However, your interests in theology didn’t let you to neglect the rest of your studies. And considering Greek is the eastern language of the Empire, you should know it as one of your duties as future Emperor is to hear the pleas of all the citizens and to be capable to talk properly. And half of them talks Greek.”

“I know, but it is so hard to learn…” Emanuel seemed discouraged.

“Maybe I have the solution. Do you want to come with me, Caesar?”

“Yes, but… If someone notices us, my uncle will be informed, and will come to take me…” Suddenly, something covering him almost entirely. He heard then the voice of Constantine: “My mantle is enough large to cover you. If you walk along the walls side nobody will notice you.”

While proceeding along the corridors, they encountered a Benedictine monk running towards then (well, running towards Constantine, in truth), really worried like the end of times just arrived: “Ave, prince Simplicius. Something bothered you?”

“It’s Emanuel… he escaped again from his rooms while I was talking with that old stubborn barbarian! The debate took long as usual and the boy went again. Now both I and Wulfila are searching all the palace… I hope he didn’t reach dangerous places, like when he managed to climb the Arcus Neroniani (3). I was almost to have a heart attack that day when the Emperor too climbed the aqueduct and remained part of the day to watch Rome with his son… When they finally went down, I was ready to resign as preceptor and advisor, and to return to the peace of Montecassino. One day, those two will bring me to death.”

“However, you decided to stay the same in the end.”

“Only to maintain the promise I made to the Empress…” Constantine felt the grip from the arm of Emanuel around his waist become more strict. He immediately changed subject: “The Emperor is not returned yet?”

“Today he had a session of trials to follow as judge in the Basilica Emilia, and later he participated as princeps senates in the weekly works of the Senate, so he was quite busy…”

“ However, at this hour the Senate works will be concluded, so he is probably returning in the palace now… I guess you must find the Caesar as soon as you can.”

Simplicius started to agitate:“Do you see him?”

“ Sadly, not yet today.”

“Fine. I shall continue my search. When I found him, I will put him in his halls from the rest of his life. Ave, Constantine.”

“He is angry to me?” Said in a lowered voice Emanuel when Simplicius was out of range.

“No, he is only worried that something bad could happen to you. You are the only son of the Emperor, so your safety is one of his highest priorities. Also, he wanted you alive to avoid the possibility to become himself Emperor.” Then both chuckled.

After a while, they arrived in Constantine’s study. It was rather spartan, with wardrobes full of books and parchments, a desk in the middle and a couch on a side the man used to sleep. The military advisor of the Emperor, even if he had a large villa at his disposal, almost remained in the palace to receive the last news from all the distant parts of the Empire, from the green hills of Hibernia to the yellow dunes over the Jordan, from the dark woods of the Albus to the first cataract of sun and rock of the Nile (4).

The man opened one of the wardrobes, he looked for a while, then he took a book partially covered in dust and started to clean it. Then, he gave it to Emanuel.

“Here’s a present for you, Caesar.”

In the cover there was a title with golden painted characters in Greek. Emanuel started to translate it.

“Mi..myths. Myths of… Hellas. …“Pagan myths of ancient Hellas”, right?”

“It’s correct. It is an anthology of various stories really interesting written by the Greeks in ancient times, when they believed still in many gods and Rome didn’t exist yet.”

“It’s written in Greek?” Emanuel didn’t seemed extremely amused.

“Of course. Why don’t try to read the first story?”

Emanuel started to move the first pages. When he reached the first story, he noticed aside to the written paper another entirely covered by colored images. It showed a man eating some children, which were trapped into his belly, and a woman who brought a baby in a cave with a female goat. (5)

The boy was really surprised. Constantine explained the particularity of that book. “It was copied from an original version by a monk of Montecassino about thirty years ago, who decided to enrich it with images which helps to understand the story. The abbey decided to start to decorate part of his books following the example of the monks of Armagus (6).”

“It’s… really beautiful. Are you sure I can take it?”

“I will be honored if you accept my present, Caesar.”

“Thanks, Constantine! You are really a great friend! I will start to read it immediately.” The boy embraced the man, visibly embarrassed.

“Uh… maybe you should reach your rooms now?”

The boy nodded, but before reaching the door he turned back: “Can I stay in your office for a while to read in peace the book instead?”

“As you wish, Caesar.”

The boy remained in silence on the couch to read the first story. It wasn’t so difficult to read, but he still failed to traduce some parts. He promised to continue reading the book when he completely mastered Greek. He looked towards Constantine, who was writing on a scroll while controlling some papers sparse in the desk.

Then Emanuel broke the silence: “Are you busy?”

“I must finish this relation for your father, then for this day I concluded my work.”

“So… When you complete your duties, do you want to tell me a story?”

“You have already some ideas, Caesar?”

“Can you tell me how you met Mei (7)?”

Constantine wasn’t surprised to the request, however he tried to appear annoyed:“But I already told you many times…”

“Please, Constantine… It’s such a beautiful story! And you are an excellent narrator…”

“…Fine, Caesar. Our story began almost twenty years ago, in the city of Satala…”

Satala, Winter or 608 A.D.

The snow covered completely the city of Satala, the most Eastern of all the cities of the now divided Roman Empire. The “door or the East”, as it was commonly know by the merchants, continued to be a site of transit of goods coming and sending to East, even if the garrison imposed strict controls. The city passed with all the rest of Anatolia on the side of the general Phocas, recognized Emperor from the Senate of Constantinople, during that 15th of August which should be a day of feast and turned instead in a night of terror, the second Rome in flame and the Emperor Maurice dead under the weight of a fallen dome of Saint Sophia.

When they started to remove the ruins of the dome, the corpse of the Emperor was founded. His body was wrecked, but his face remained intact, a calm and satisfied expression while his eyes remained open. That discovery caused some trouble in a still burning Constantinople, the population started to view it as a sign of bad omen for them and Phocas’s reign, considering also the prince Eraclius and his supporters managed to escape without problems.

Phocas wanted to exorcise these fears in some way, and his “black soul”, the Saxon barbarian Rainulf, suggested him to expose him in the Hippodrome and to devastate even more the corpse by allowing the chariots of the horse races to pass over him. That horrible attempt was stopped by the intervention of the young son of the Emperor, Constantine, proclaimed Caesar and co-ruler, who convinced it will be a too great humiliation for a ruler who no matter what was supported by his people and will attract more supporters in favor of Eraclius. It was decided instead to cremate the corpse and throw his cinders in the sea; however, secretly Constantine exchanged the corpse of Maurice with that of a dead commoner with similar traits and buried with the help of loyal friends the Emperor outside the city walls, under a young plant of Laurel.

He acted so because in his heart, he remained loyal to the house of Justin; he blamed the actions of his father, but he decided to follow him the same in that folly. “Honor your father and your mother”, said one of the ten commandments, but even at cost to betray their lords? “It was to save the primate the Greeks obtained over the Latins in the Empire in the last decades”, his father justified his actions, but for the young in the end it was still a treason, and after all started under bad omens.

Because Constantine wasn’t an exalted. By letting escape Eraclius from Constantinople, his father realized a mortal error, not only for his reign but for the supremacy of the Greeks in the Empire as well.

Because he knew well Eraclius. He was one of his infancy friends, even if he was more older of him (about six years of difference), and he was one of the few he understood the prince was animated by a secret fire. A fire which will purge all his enemies.

Despite all, he decided to attend to his role as Caesar in a exemplar way: he was sent by his father to Anatolia, to ensure the loyalty of the region and build an army to invade Egypt, which refused to side with them. And the Caesar was well welcomed in the Anatolian cities, until his “triumphal trip” was disturbed by the news in the start of November when an army composed mostly by Italics landed in Egypt. The same Eraclius was with them, intentioned to march across the Asian provinces. He was at Satala when he was informed, because he was waiting a reply from the Kingdom of Armenia about its loyalty to the new Emperor. However, both Armenia and Osroene turned soon towards Persia, believing the Empire was in a deep crisis and not capable to protect them anymore.

The King of Kings Khorasu made of these countries tributary vassals, but he left them large autonomies. This displeased the revanchist party in the court of Ctesiphont, wanting to invade the eastern part of the Empire by taking advantage of the situation, but the Persian ruler refused. The strength of the Roman garrisons on the border was still strong and Persia, even if almost recovered from the wounds of the civil war, still wasn’t able to pursue foreign adventures.

It was the only good news in the middle of other really bad. In Dalmatia, the rebel armies failed to advance towards Italy; in Macedonia, his father captured after weeks of siege Thessalonica, but he ravaged the city to show it as example for everyone will not recognize his power. But that move instead angered more the Greeks proper, determined to resist to the usurper in name of Eraclius in Thessalia, while the old city of Athens become their main headquarters, by proposal of the Bishop of Thessalonica Eusebius, who was convinced to left the city in the last moment through an adventurous escape in the Aegean sea. They didn’t knew in that moment they gave to the Athenians the realization of an ancient dream: their city finally became the capital of Greece…

Constantine was recalled from his thoughts by a sentinel who noticed something from the walls: “Caesar, a quite large column of people is in sight. They will be in the city in a few hours.”

“They are Persian soldiers?”

“ No, Caesar. It seemed a merchant convoy, but…”

“ What is the problem?”

“ They doesn’t seemed the usual Persian or Indian merchants… But probably it’s better for you to see by person.”

The Caesar reached one of the towers. In effect, the caravan really compact and ordered, and flags he never saw in his life, and the people was dressed with unusual clothing. He then had an epiphany.

“They are a foreign delegation.”

The sentinel was surprised: “Delegation? From Persia?”

“No. From a people more to east.”

“From India, then?”

“No. More to east even from India. We must prepare a great welcome for them, alert the garrison to be ready.”

“As you wish, Caesar.”

While going down from the tower, Constantine was quite sad: “What a shame… Such a great historical opportunity while the Empire is currently divided.”

Few hours later, in late morning

The avant-garde of the convoy crossed the bridge on the Euphrates, the main Eastern door of Satala, and entered in the adjacent square. In front of him, the Caesar Constantine stood on a horse, his guards on his side and a curious crowd around them. A men who seemed Persian left a really elaborate carriage, decorated with animals never saw before and walked towards them.

“ I’m the Persian translator of the man who leads this delegation, Lord Pao Hoa. He wanted to give his homage to the Emperor of the Romans in name of his master.”

Constantine wanted a immediate confirm to his theory: “ They came from the country of the Silk, right? From Serica (8)?”

“ Exactly. They told me their country was reunited after a long period of anarchy about twenty-five years ago and heard the Empire on the western edge of the World was reborn too.”

“You can tell them they are welcomed in the Empire. I’m the Caesar Constantine, son of the Emperor Phocas.”

The translator seemed surprised: “We didn’t know you were here, Caesar… It’s a surprise… I need a moment, please.” He ran towards the carriage, while Constantine managed to see the person in its inside. He was a middle-age man, really serious. Suddenly, he call someone from his retinue.

He was petrified. A young woman came towards the carriage, her movements really elegant. Her raven hairs are intertwined between then on the top of her hair, and for a moment her purple eyes met his brown. He noticed they are not so slanting like that of the other members of the convoy.

After some moments, the translator returned, quite embarrassed: “ I’m sorry, Caesar, but… We heard of the current situation in the Empire when we entered in Armenia, and… the orders of Lord Pao are to meet with the legitimate ruler of the Empire, and from we heard he is the son of the previous Emperor. Lord Pao is not qualified to met… a ruler who “forced” his rights to reign. And considering your father not controlled yet all the Empire, the delegation recognized Eraclius as only Emperor for now.”

“Then, I can’t allow to prosecute over. It will be a hard blow for the prestige of my father if they don’t want to meet him.”

“So, I guess the delegation will decide to return to his homeland.”

“Wait! After a so long trip, it will be a real disgrace from both our countries if they returned back to their homeland. We should have the possibility to discuss first and find a solution. I invite all of them to eat to my table tonight, and to sleep as my guests in comfortable rooms of the fort of the city. If we don’t reach an agreement, they will be free to go away.”

“I shall inform them immediately.”

The translator returned to the carriage. Constantine noticed the woman looked to him surprised. After a while, he received a reply.

“Lord Pao thinks you are really wise despite your young age. He accepts your offer.”

Few hours later, in the afternoon

Constantine was talking alone as a commoner along the roads of Satala. Lord Pao was resting in one of the best rooms of the fort of Satala, so he had still some free time. He enjoyed to merge into the crowd as a normal person, especially without his “guard dog” on his side, he helped him to relax and think better.

However he didn’t know how to resolve that situation. After centuries of inactivity and decline from both sides, Serica finally sent a diplomatic delegation… which refused to meet his father and wanted to meet Eraclius instead. Sending them away, it will be a lost occasion for the Empire; forcing them to going towards Constantinople, it will be against his honor and however counter-productive for the development of a Roman-Serican relationship; requesting them to wait for a normalization of the situation, it was like an implicit recognition of the rights of Eraclius.

So, the best course was to inform them in some way to return in Armenia and then travel to south across Mesopotamia in order to reach Nabathea and then Egypt, where Eraclius was in that moment. The problem was how to put the plan in motion, as his main obstacle was his “guard dog”…

He stopped, again petrified. He saw again the young Serican woman moving between the stalls of the main market, looking with curiosity objects she never saw in her life, smiling.

Suddenly, three soldiers encircled her. They were clearly drunken and with the worst intentions. She tried to go away with grace, but they continue to importune her. One of them took then her wrist; she was anger, but not scared, and then surprise when he was touched on his shoulder by someone, and when he looked behind he received a punch in the face.

Constantine said: “Nobody told you to respect the women, above all if are foreign guests from a far country?”

The soldiers didn’t recognize the Caesar in their conditions. One of them said: “Shut up, you bastard!”, before launching towards him. But Constantine was trained well by his “guard dog”, dodging their attacks and inflicting punches as reply. When they seemed defeated, he turned towards the Serican: “Are you all right?” He didn’t thought she couldn’t understand Greek, but nevertheless she replied in Latin: “Watch out!” before pushing him to a late, avoiding in time a vase one of the soldiers, recovering, launched towards him. In that effort, her hairstyle untied, dropping all her long hair. Now she was really anger: “I guess you deserve a lesson.” She said to the three soldiers in front of her.

And like a bolt, using moves Constantine never saw in his life, she easily knocked out the three men, leaving them on the ground.

He was amazed. “How are you capable to do this?”

This time, she spoke in Greek: “It’s a fighting style recently developed in my country, called 少林

“Uh?”

“I’m sorry, you don’t know Serican… In Greek, it could be translated pankration of the young forest.”

“And how you know both Latin and Greek?” But he didn’t received a reply because both were attracted by a death rattle.

One of the soldiers was deadly pierced by a sword; the man who placed the weapon in that corpse immediately extracted it and penetrated a second soldier still on the ground; the third soldier, more far, tried to escape when he was struck by a dagger on his back.

Constantine was enraged towards his “guard dog”: “Rainulf! How you dare to kill those soldiers…”

The barbarian grinned: “They attacked you, Caesar. It’s an act of lese-majesty. Also, they were drunken in service. All reasons to decide their death.”

“They deserved a process at least! The Corpus Iuris Civilis…”

“You are not informed yet? The Imperial Senate few days ago suspended the Corpus Iuris Civilis and voted the proposal of your father to enact the martial law until the final victory.”

Constantine didn’t believe to his ears: “What? This is a betrayal of the ancient republican principles! How the Senate…”

“I’m not a politician, but as far I know, the Senate reputed as passed some old institutions… For example, I heard your father assumed the official title of Basileus...”

The Caesar mumbled lowly: “… A dispotic monarchy…”

“What?”

“No, nothing… However, I request to be informed from that moment to now of everything happens in Constantinople. I’m still your Caesar, and you my subordinate…”

“You know I’m only subordinated to the Emperor, Caesar… Whatever, I invite you to return in the fort. This city is not safe for your security.”

“Only a moment.” Constantine looked towards the Serican woman:“I’m sorry of what happened to you. Let me offer at least to escort you to the fort…”

She maliciously smiled: “Thanks, but I’m able to return by alone.”

“ I’m sure you do. By the way, considering you both know both Greek and Latin, I hope you will help me to communicate with your lord tonight during the dinner… By the way, I didn’t ask yet your name.”

The Serican replied:”My name is Mei Cheng. I will be honored to help you this night. And I thank you for your help, Caesar.”

“ You are welcome.” When he left her, he thought smiling: ”Things will become interesting, this night…”

More years later, in Rome…

“… And so, that day I met Mei for the first time.” Constantine looked to the boy who slept on the couch. He had a satisfied smile on his face, making the man to thank again God for giving him the possibility to expiate the faults of his family by serving the Imperial family.

“As always, your narrative skills are excellent. You are even better of my poor cousin who was searching every point of the Palatine with Wulfila. They run like two tormented souls.” A man entered in the room. He was dressed as a commoner, but everyone in the Empire will recognize him thanks to his physical appearance: his eyes were silver of the tonality of the moon, while a scar on his face from his left cheek to the start of the neck didn’t affected the beauty of his lineaments; on his front, a diadem of iron with brilliant red veins partially covered by a Laurel crown was the visible sign of his power.

Constantine bowed in front of him: “I was only taking care of the Imperial prince, Augustus Eraclius. However, probably we should inform them Emanuel was in my study all that time…”

“It’s better to wait still for a moment. They must be punished in some way to allow him escape again, and however it’s so funny see them in that state.” Eraclius smirked. Then he looked towards his son: “ Maybe it’s better to bring him to his bed now.”

When he was taking Emanuel into his arms, Eraclius noticed the boy held a book adorned with golden decorations; on the leather cover was written in Greek: “Pagan myths of ancient Hellas”.

He recognized it immediately:“But… this is…”

“I gave it to Emanuel to help him learn better Greek, I hope you don’t have nothing against it…”

“No, but… This book was a gift of birthday from your father to you when you were a child, I remember it was one of your favorites, I can’t allow to deprive you of this…”

“No, It’s fine. It’s a long time I didn’t read that book, it was only an ornament covered of dust in that wardrobe, so now it will be more useful.”

“Constantine, I…”

“No, Eraclius. There is no need to ask your excuses. My father deserved his end. He betrayed the Empire, provoked the death of your father, and that of other good Romans.”

“However, the mode how I…”

“It was an exemplar way to how a warrior as you are should punish the traitors, and however you showed your generosity by sparing me.”

“I knew you accepted to become Caesar only for loyalty to your father, and not to become Emperor one day and not certainly for personal ambitions. Also, without you my father will never have today a tomb where I could cry him.”

“However, this never changed the fact I betrayed him in the end…”

“No, you only decided what was better for the Empire. You spared many lives that day with your choice, and this was a commendable act worthy of a Caesar and of a good Christian.” Both were smiling now.

Eraclius however wanted to introduce another argument: “By the way, do you have news from Serica?”

“Really scarce… After the fall of the Sui, the contacts with our embassy in Chang’an are drastically reduced. I’m not really sure if they are still alive in this moment… This new Tang Dynasty seemed really hostile with everything connected with its predecessors, and saw our delegation as “corrupting western devils”. In their last letter, they informed us about the closing of the little church they opened some years ago…”

“Mei didn’t have other information from her network?”

“Few or nothing… Her connections almost were or killed, or disappeared, or passed on the side of the Tang. She often wanted to return in Serica, but I always dissuaded her. She doesn’t have a future in her homeland.”

Eraclius noticed the contrasting feelings into Constantine, but over that matter he decided to wait he was him to talk about it: now it was the time to give orders. “Organize a small group of soldiers masked as a merchant convoy to control the situation and if there was a concrete risk, to help the return of the delegation to the Empire. The times are not mature to continue a diplomatic relation between us and Serica.”

“ It’s really a pity… Now that for the first time in the Roman history we had a concrete relation with the country of the Silk, we are forced to renounce.”

“ Don’t be afraid… Thanks to your efforts and that of Mei, in only fifteen years we managed to know so really much of their history, their culture, their language and their religions, especially about the Buddhasasana (9), the Greeks and the Romans since Herodotus failed to deepen… Even our knowledge about India was enriched as well. And who knows, with the time the Tang will change idea and accept to continue their relationship with us.”

“ I hope you are right, Augustus.”

Eraclius then wanted to discuss another argument:“ What about Omar (10), instead?”

Constantine expected this other question: “A letter from him arrived just this morning. He said that certainly the skirmishes between the pagans in the desert are not certainly of the greatness of the battles he had the honor to fight with us, but he stated if Allah gave you the strength to reunite the Empire of the Romans, certainly he will help him, his prophet and his people to unite Arabia under a single banner. In my opinion, he was running behind a chimera. Nobody was able to unite that sea of sand before and nobody will succeed in the future” He reflected for a moment. “ Maybe, probably, our Empire in the future.”

“Continue to remain in contact with Omar, no matter what.”

“Augustus, they are only a nomad tribe of exalted…”

“It is how a nation rises and an Empire blooms. I have the convincement Omar and his brothers in faith one day will succeed to unite Arabia. And this could be indeed both a good and a bad thing for the Empire…”

“Why, Augustus?”

“Because their faith is based on the Bible. We have the same God, even if they don’t believe in the divinity of Christ. If we kept cordial relations with them, one day we should be able to negotiate and maybe to incorporate them into Christianity, and they will useful allies for us. But if their positions will be more intransigent, this should create problems in the future…”

Eraclius expected a moment to express his thoughts: “If they decided to spread their… “Islam”, right? with the force where possible, they could decide to assault one day Mesopotamia or Palestine…”

Constantine was surprised:“Omar will never betray us, Augustus!”

“Omar is surely trustworthy, but he is a solder first, so if his leaders decided one day to attack us, he will fight with his people no matter what.”

“Maybe… it’s only a possibility, but maybe… one day, Omar could become leader of his people.”

“I hope this never happened. If that day arrive, or our East or the Persian Empire will fall under his domain.”

(1) OC.
(2) OC.
(3) Sector of the Aqua Claudia who served first the Domus Aurea and later was connected to the Domus Augustana.
(4) Quite a big spoiler… so the suggestions are opened…
(5) Reference to the myth of the birth of Zeus.
(6) OTL Armagh in Ireland.
(7) Another OC. But the name is not casual: in Chinese mythology, the “Mei” are objects who later for various reasons (usually, for human negligence) become angry spirits. “Cheng” is called their bad influx.
(8) Guess it will be useless to explain what country it is…
(9) For obvious reasons, they couldn’t call Buddhism with the modern term. They simply used the Chinese pronounce of the Sanskrit definition of the religion, meaning “teaching of the Buddha”.
(10) Yes, it’s the future caliph. As I said before, Islam will not be butterflied but certainly it will take a different historical course specially about its expansion…

A/N: So, from this chapter I will take another method to continue the TL, by making the narrative parts as a series of “flashbacks” narrated to the various characters to Emanuel. I didn’t resist to waiting put him later in the story, and however it give me the opportunity to make some spoilers and create more suspense…
 
Intermission Three

Extract from " The wonders of Rome, the eighth wonder of the World":

"...To give finally a definitive asset to the Palatine occurred the works ordered by Justinian, reorganized by Eraclius and completed under Emanuel.

Justinian wanted the Domus Augustana (which, it's important to remember, was in origin the private part of the complex but later inherited all of it), devastated in the sack of 410, returned to be the seat worthy of the Emperor of the Romans; Eraclius enlarged the works by incorporating all the Palatine, and Emanuel made the final adjustments.

The hill was completely surrounded by a wall, because the Emperor wanted to make it a fortress where the Romans could take refuge in case of an enemy siege.

The main entrance was, and still is, the great door on the side of the church of the Magdalene (revisited temple of Venus and Rome), called of the angels for the relative statues which adorned it, the most important is that of Saint Michael with his sword pointed on the sky and his eyes on the ground. The debate to replace the previously removed statues of Saint Eraclius and Saint Alessia is still on course, as a side effect of the eternal debate on the "angelization" of the couple between Imperial and Vatican theologians.

The western part of the Palatine, where was located the Domus Tiberiana, become the administrative and military sector of the complex, a sort of little town with a proper life.

The Domus Augustana with its four parts (Domus Flavia, Domus Augustana proper, stadium and Domus Severiana) remained externally almost inalterated but internally, during the reign of the successive Emperors, was constantly remodeled in its internals, specially the Aula Regia. Eraclius, for security reasons, added a hanging corridor between the complex and the Imperial tribune of the Circus Maximus, the so called Eraclian corridor; through the ages, it was destroyed and rebuilded many times.

On the left side of the "Road of the Purple" (the way between the door of the Angels and the Northern entrance of the Domus), the former temple of Apollo is now the Church of the Iron Crown, where the diadem formed with the nails of the crucifixion generally is placed along with the main signs of the Imperial power (the Aquil, the sister swords, the Stellar crown etc.) and the treasury of the Imperial crown. Eraclius transformed the temple as a church, but it was his son to give it his current role, instituing also its personal guard, the "Milites of the Iron Crown". Still today, be part of that guard is one of the highest honors for a soldier of the Empire.

Lastly, the east border of the complex was adapted to become the Imperial gardens.

Despite the height of the walls, the complex is clearly visible from various parts of Rome. It's also partially visitable, but the tourists could only see the Domus Flavia, the church of the Iron Crown, the stadium, the gardens and part of the walls. The Domus Augustana proper and the administrative sector of the Domus Tiberiana, along with the subterrean complex, are interdicted. However, the visitable part is still one of the most beautiful monuments of Rome, the Empire and the World."

Palatine sistemation under Eraclius reduced.png
 
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Chapter twenty: Caesar only by name

Rome, many years later…

Emanuel was bored. His father went to an inspection to the port of Ostia, recently reopened to sea trades, but above all to be used as main harbor for the fleet of Western Mediterranean, to control the new model of warship the naval engineers just developed. According to the reports, it was a sort of dromon, but more large and equipped and modeled in function of a new weapon the boy didn’t know much, but it seemed something of really deadly, considering the Emperor imposed the highest secrecy on the entire matter; he even arrived to menace to death everyone will let escape even a single word on it, a clear sign it was something of really powerful and innovative.

Sincerely, Emanuel was devoured by curiosity. He knew that weapon was developed in the laboratories of the Castrum Pretorium, under the vigilance of Marcellus; so, he decided to visit the site of the garrison of Rome as Caesar of the Empire. And he knew who could bring him.

The quarter of the Domus Tiberiana was like a beehive, where the advisors of the Emperor and their assistants collected news and information from all the Empire, and sent their replies to all the Empire (after previous assent of his father of course); here were concentrated the Imperial archives, but also were located the barracks of the Purple Cross, the elite guard of the Emperor, so called because in their armors was painted that symbol. Someone suggested to call them Praetorians, like the old guard which protected the ancient autocrats, but Eraclius refused not wanting to recall awful memories connected to them, a history of blood and betrayals.

The little Caesar however didn’t visit them this time, and proceeded to a room which looked to the Forums. The person inside moved her body with strange (for a westerner) movements, without making any noises, and being instead elegant and fluid at the same moment. Emanuel waited until she seemed to stop her meditation exercises.

“Can I disturb you, Mei? Otherwise, I will return later…”

“No, Caesar, you will never disturb me, I just finished my daily exercises…”

“So, now you are free?”

“Until nobody ask for my services, yes.”

“Then, do you want to escort me? I want to walk in the city.”

“Your father prohibited you to leave the palace when he wasn’t here…”

“If it is for my security, I will take all the guards you consider sufficient to protect me adequately…”

“Usually, you don’t want to have so many soldiers around…”

“One can always change idea. Besides, I’m not wanting to go to our usual spots. I’d like to pay a visit in the thermae of Diocletianus…”

“Why so far? The thermae of Trajan are more near and more suitable for one of your rank. And you like more that of Caracalla, as far I remember…”

“Well, maybe I want to see also the city from the Aurelian walls, considering my father prohibited me to return to the Aqua Neroniani… and because I’d like to see also the Domus Augustana, from the Castrum Pretorium I shouldn’t have problems, so if remained some time we could also make a brief visit to Marcellus…”

“Maybe to see also a certain secret weapon in action?”

Emanuel pouted, in clear sign of disappointment:“It was so clear?”

“Yes. It’s some days when you heard us talking of it we noticed that you literally…burn to know what kind of weapon we are realizing. But you didn’t ask yet to not appear inopportune.”

“Who noticed exactly?”

“I, Constantine, and of course your father.”

The boy didn't cover his delusion:“So… I guess I remain here, right?”

“Well… Your father told us if you really want to see it, we can brought you to see it. But he wanted the highest secrecy from you.”

“I swear, for God and for the Augustus!”

“If you want, I will appoint a carriage appositely for you. But the best thing maybe is still to wait for your father’s return…”

Emanuel was somewhat irritated by that statement:“I’m still the Caesar, after all. I don’t see why all my actions will be subordinated to the Augustus…”

“Because your father advocated to himself your powers until you reach the suitable age to use them.”

He sighed in defeat:“Then, I must wait still for a while.”

“It’s the best way for sapience, Caesar.”

“So, while we going, do you want to entertain me with a story?”

“What kind of story?”

“Well…Constantine few days ago told me how you met the first time in Satala, but then I felt asleep. Do you want to continue where he interrupted?”

“Where he arrived?”

“When he left you at the market, after that you accepted to help him with the Serican ambassador.”

“Fine. I returned to the quarters reserved to the delegation, in order to prepare for the dinner of that night…”

Satala, Fall of 608

Constantine was impressed of that he heard about the Sericans during the dinner having with lord Pao Hoa and Mei, trying to avoid the irritating presence of Rainulf the best he could.

However, despite the pleasant dinner, he failed to convince the ambassador to meet his father at Constantinople. He then said that tomorrow the delegation will be free to return to its steps, and didn’t notice the strange glare in Rainulf’s eyes.

Few hours later, when he was sure to not be noticed, Constantine silently left his room and after avoiding the patrols he reached the chamber of Mei.

He entered, paying attention to not create noises.

When he reached the bed, Constantine noticed it was empty. Then, he heard a dagger pointing on his neck.

“The Roman assassins should be more able of this before to have a chance to caught me unprepared.”

“Mei, it’s me.”

She immediately retired back the dagger:“Uh! Sorry, Caesar… But I thought someone wanted to get rid of me… To be honest, I thought it was that barbarian of your guard.”

“Well, Rainulf is capable of these things, but surely will not try something of really insensate without consulting me first.” However, Constantine wasn’t completely sure of this.

“Certainly, it’s not really sensate neither the intrusion of a Roman prince in my room in the middle of the night… Unless he wanted from me something of particular…”

“What…? No! No! I’m not here for that!”

“Then, what do you want to me?”

“To discuss about the possibility for you to meet the Emperor Eraclius.”

“But in the dinner you tried to convince lord Hoa to meet your father…”

“It’s true, but… The fact the Empire is in a civil war shouldn’t ruin the opportunity to have a contact with Serica after centuries of silence.”

She nodded:“So, how we can meet Eraclius?”

“Not certainly passing through the lands occupied by us… the best thing is to return in Armenia and to proceed along the Euphrates, and then to cross the desert in direction of Palestine.”

“Why Palestine?”

“Because Eraclius is in Egypt right now and will march towards North. I guess soon will reach the city of Jerusalem, so if you move fast you can meet him there.”

“Jerusalem…I heard of it. It’s an important religious site for Christians and Hebrews, right?”

“Yes, because it is the site of the first temple in honor of our God, now in ruins, and of the sepulcher of Christ, where it’s conserved also the Cross where he died.”

“Why you decided to help us?”

“I already told you, an opportunity like this mustn’t be ruined by this stupid civil war. When soon it finished, Serica and Rome could freely talk, without problems of sort.”

“You think the war will end in favor of Eraclius, right?”

“Yes. My father fought a battle in the long term destined to lost. He failed to attract all the East in name of a Greek supremacy, with the revolt he seriously damaged for months the commercial efficacy of Constantinople, and in the end he was still an usurper.”

“You heart remained loyal to the true Emperor, right?”

“…Yes.”

“So, why you sided with your father?”

“Because it is my father. I can’t betray him. So, I will follow him, doing the best I can do as his Caesar, until the inevitable epilogue.”

"...You are really a noble man, Caesar."

"I'm Caesar only by name. You can call Constantine, if you want."

They continued to look reciprocally in silence, until Constantine decided to return in his rooms.

“Well, I guess I shall go now.”

However, when he tried to go outside, he noticed a patrol of soldiers who stopped just near the door to talk.

“Uhm… I guess I must wait for a while.”

“So… what we can do in the meanwhile?”

“Do you want to talk a little more?”

“About what?”

“About you…I’m curious to know how you know well Greek and Latin.”

“It’s more simple than you think… I learned them from my father. It was a Roman merchant who traveled along all Asia, until he settled in Serica; here he knew my mother, and marry her.”

“So… you are half Roman. And also a citizen of the Empire by paternal inheritance.”

“Technically yes, even if I serve the Emperor of Serica.”

“But why you use the maternal surname?”

“In Serica, usually the husband enters in the family of his bride, to become a sort of adopted son for the patriarch.”

“From that part of the Empire your father came?”

“He was Italic. More exactly, he came from the city of Venetia. Do you heard of it?”

“I didn’t visit it, but I heard it’s particular. It was originally a series of towns scattered in a little archipelago in the middle of a lagoon in North-East of Italia, and became soon an important port for the commerce in that region. I heard also it was called “the city on the water”.”

“One day, I’d like to visit it.”

“When the civil war is ended, you will be free to go everywhere you want in the Empire. However, this explains also the fact your first language is Latin. Are you Christian as well?”

“No, even if my father talked me much about the religion of the Christ. In Serica, the Christian priests are not arrived yet. I adopted the beliefs of my mother, about the Bhuddasasana.”

“Bhuddasasana? I remember it was mentioned during the dinner. It was a religion founded in India, right?”

And Mei started to talk about the basis of her religion, and then to describe better the country of Serica and of its capital Chang’An, and Constantine replied with the narrations over Rome and the regions of the Empire. They spent almost the rest of the night to talk, without noticing a third person was hearing their discourses from the wooden boards of the ceiling.

The next morning, Constantine was in the main square of the fort of Satala, to say goodbye to the Serican delegation. He saw Mei talking with lord Hoa of something important, and seeing the diplomat making a small smile in his direction it wasn’t difficult to understand the matter of the discussion.

Mei then approached the Caesar: “My lord wants to thank you for your hospitality and your…precious advice. You saved our mission, Constantine.”

“I’m glad to help you. At least, I made something of useful for the Empire…”

“You can be still useful for your country…”

“How?”

“Come with us to meet Eraclius. We could wait some days in Armenia if you managed to escape, or better I can help you directly. We will then impetrate in your favor in front of the Emperor, and I’m sure he will forgive you…You shouldn’t waste your life and your talents for a lost battle.”

“Mei…Thanks. But really, I can’t accept. I can’t abandon my father in this moment. Also, there are people who are counting on me now.”

“It is… a goodbye, then?”

He made a small smile:“Maybe…If my God and your Buddha reached an agreement, we could meet again a day.”

“I really hope for this. So, I guess it’s time to move…”

“Not so fast.” Rainulf appeared suddenly; with a gesture, two soldiers started to close the gate of the fort while others started to surround the delegation.

“Rainulf! What are you doing?”

“My duty as a true servant of the Emperor. The delegation will not be allowed to left the Empire until it meets the Basileus Phocas.”

“How do you dare! I’m the Caesar, and these are my guests!”

“Yes, you are the Caesar, but this document signed by your father and approved by the Senate few weeks ago will authorize me to overpass your command if I found they could be… dangerous for the survival of the reign. And letting them return to their steps only to make a long deviation towards Egypt to meet an insignificant prince surely is a dangerous proposition. Also, in the delegation there is also a Roman citizen…”

Constantine and Mei were surprised, then they understood: “You heard us, yesterday…”

“It’s really interesting how the acoustic between the walls and the wooden ceilings of this fort allowed to hear the most surprising things, you don’t find?”

Constantine decided to contrast Rainulf. He had enough of him:“However, they are emissaries of a foreign country, you can’t simply imprison them as vulgar thieves…”

“They want to meet that impostor, so it’s sufficient to accuse them of complicity with the enemy.”

“This is enough! Guards, arrest this man!”

But nobody executed the order. Instead, a group of soldiers encircled Constantine and Mei. She was ready to fight, but he stopped her. “No. They are too many even for the two of us.”

Rainulf approached the couple:“You seemed really exhausted in these days, Caesar. I guess that you deserved a…forced rest. You will be escorted on your rooms. Don’t worry for your “guests”, they will stay with us even when we will be ready to depart…”

“Depart? Where we are directed?”

“To Palestine. Eraclius seemed to have conquered the peninsula of Sinai and now is proceeding directly towards Jerusalem. Probably the city will fall, but we will stop his advance by trapping him. Of course, as the Caesar you will lead these forces, hoping in the imminent battle nobody of really bad will happen to you…” The menace wasn’t neither so hidden.

Constantine controlled his wrath, and also Mei:”Today you won this round, Rainulf. But one day you will be forced to pay for this.”

Rome, many years later

The Castrum Pretorium was structured like a stable Roman camp of the ancient times, with only the difference of a Christian chapel in the intersection between the Cardus and the Decumanus. After paying a visit in the site, Emanuel and Mei proceeded to the foundries. They weren’t after all difficult to find: the dark smokes which emitted was visible from all Rome, considering they were always active and really productive.

In the main furnace, they found Marcellus, working on a sword. He stopped for a moment when he noticed the two persons coming towards him.

“What a surprise! I never expected the visit of the little Caesar and of his Serican warrior…”

Emanuel smiled to him:“Well, it’s a while you didn’t come to visit us in the court, so we decided to visit you instead.”

“It’s because I was really busy in these days by following a “certain project” wanted by your father. Now I’m just relaxing with this commission.” He continued to work on the blade, almost finished. Emanuel was impressed to the quality of the weapon and praised the smith.

“This sword is really beautiful.”

“Of course you will find it beautiful, considering your father wanted…”

“My father wanted what?”

Marcellus understood to have talked too much, considering the intensity of Mei's glare:“Uh… It should be a surprise but… Your father asked me to prepare this sword as a present for you.”

“Really? He asked you to prepare my first sword?”

Mei explained:“The Emperor thinks you reached the suitable age to start your warrior training.”

Marcellus continued, visibly worried:“He was so delighted to make you this surprise… Please, don’t tell him I reveal it! He’s the most placid person of the world, but when his rage explodes…”

Emanuel assumed a solemn tone:“…Fine, but I want you leading us to see the mysterious weapon you are preparing here.”

“But…The Emperor said…”

The Serican intervened:“Don’t worry, he gave previously to me and Constantine the necessary authorizations.”

“So…Come with me, then.”

Marcellus entered in a warehouse well guarded, only to take few minutes later a little leather flask. Then, they reached an isolated training ground where some mannequins are gathered. The smith emptied the liquid in the flask over one of them, then he reached a safety distance and launched a torch on him. The mannequin immediately was set ablaze.

Marcellus didn’t seem impressed:“It’s an inflammable liquid the secret weapon my father tried to mask as new terrible weapon?”

“The demonstration is not ended yet.” Marcellus took a near wooden barrel of water and launched it to the mannequin. And Emanuel was really scared to that he saw.

Instead to extinguish the fire, the water alimented even more it, which started to be more tall and vigorous, and even more fast to consume the mannequin. Also the barrel, which hit the mannequin and was partially wet inside, took immediately fire. Few minutes later, remained really few of them.

Marcellus explained:”This is an inflammable liquid combined with substances which doesn’t allow to the water to extinguish him, but instead its components received new strength at contact with the water. The wood, especially that in a ship, will be immediately consumed. In fact, the naval engineers realized a sort of siphon to launch the liquid from a certain distance to set ablaze the enemy ships. It’s nothing of really particular, we used well known concepts of hydraulics to realize it. However, it could be launched also by certain type of catapults appositely prepared: in a siege of a city, they could create havoc in the defenders trying to extinguish fires which the water couldn’t extinguish. Because it remembers the perpetual flames which burns the sinners in Hell, we called it “Infernal Fire” (1). It’s a devastating weapon and at the same time a measure of prevention…”

Emanuel, visibly upset, found finally the courage to interrupt the smith: “My father will never use a weapon like that. It’s…dishonorable for a warrior like him.”

Marcellus and Mei seemed embarrassed to the last statement, and Emanuel noticed something was going wrong. Then the smith found the courage to talk: “Your father already utilized this weapon once, some years ago. During the siege of Toletum.”

Emanuel didn’t have the force to reply, so Marcellus continued:“I don’t know all the details, but the Infernal fire was created, seemed by accident, just before the war of Spain, to be more exactly I guess it was during the Britannic campaign; however, to enter in Toledo in time, just before…you know…”

“Continue.”

“Well, the night prior the battle, the Roman army prepared some projectiles fueled with this liquid, and because the next morning as securely you know it was a rainy day, they easily set ablaze part of the city and the Visigoths failed to extinguish the fire and believed it was a sort of divine punishment…”

“Well, this is the same thing I heard too…from my father.”

“If your father lied over that matter, it was because he was horrified of the effects of the Infernal Fire over the entire city of Toledo, and preferred to support the legend it was a divine intervention to provoke inextinguishable fires instead to let know it was a product of the human intellect. But recently he decided to resume its production and ordered Simplicius in his chronicles to write what it really happened that day.”

Emanuel didn’t have the force to continue anymore the discourse:“Mei… I want to return in the Domus Augustana now, please.”

Domus Augustana, few hours later

Emanuel was on his bed reading the book of Constantine, trying to not think about the Infernal Fire without success.

Then, he saw his father entering in the room. “Can I disturb you?”

Emanuel didn’t really want to see him in that moment, but it was impossible to deny something to him:“Of course yes, Augustus.”

“Mei told me you visited the Castrum Pretorium today. You saw the Infernal Fire, right?”

“Father… It is a terrible thing! A fire which didn’t be extinguish with water… How you can allow the production of those kind of weapon? Above all, how you could use already in a such decisive battle like that of Toletum?”

“Can I sit on your side?”

“Yes.”

“Emanuel, as you know the Empire is reunited by neither a decade. It’s a giant, but at the same time really fragile. The prosperity and the peace which slowly is returning should, no, surely will generate from outside envies and desires to get its wealth with any means possible. The world is large and we not know well all of it yet, in the prairies and the steppes east of Germania could live other nomadic peoples who one day could launch a new wave of invasions, or maybe Serica, much strong of us, could invade Persia one day and then menaced our eastern borders... One of our duties as Augustus and Caesar is to prevent a second dark age and a second fall of the Empire, at all costs; for this I authorized the production of the Infernal Fire. To help our soldiers in their task to defend the Empire.”

Emanuel recalled one of the things said by the smith:“A measure of prevention.”

“What?”

“Marcellus told me the Infernal Fire is a measure of prevention to hamper something of more horrible… He talked about the risk of foreign invasions, right?”

“Exactly."

Emanuel wanted to satisfy his curiosity now:"How that liquid is capable to be so impossible to extinguish?"

"It's a mixture of different components. We discovered its properties during our travels. During one of Chilperic's (2) experiments, Simplicius and Wulfila combined one of their usual troubles and distracted him, so causally some of his products were combined and then set ablaze. When we tried to estinguish the fire with the water, we noticed it didn't work. We used our mantles to suffocate the fire at that point. Later Chilperic managed to recreate the mixture in safety."

Eraclius revealed the components to Emanuel.

"But... some of the elements came from Serica, right?"

"Exactly. Also for this, the production is strictly controlled. If the Persians noticed we are interested in certain products and why, they could stop all their trades with them and start to produce the fire by their own."

Eraclius noticed however Emanuel was still worried about a part of the story:"Now, regarding the utilize of the Infernal Fire at Toletum… You know why that day I needed to take immediately the city, right?”

“Right. But… You are Eraclius “Magnus”, the “Germanicus Maximus”, your acts rivaled with that of Alexander and Julius Caesar… Why you didn’t find another…honorable solution to enter in Toletum?”

“First, I already told you that I don’t like to be called “Magnus”; “Germanicus Maximus” sometimes, but this is not the right moment…”

“Sorry, father.”

“And second… I was really desperate in those hours. I wasn’t able to think with lucidity. The idea to use the Infernal Fire came suddenly when I was talking with the others to decide the best course of action, so the responsibility was completely mine. I will take for the rest of my life the sin to bring to death innocent civilians, but I will be also a hypocrite if I don’t admit it was necessary in that moment. Without that decision, today you will never talked with me.”

Emanuel remained in silence for a moment to collect his thoughts, then replied to his father:“I…understand your decision and I agree with you in last stand. Certainly, being Emperor forces to take so hard decisions…”

“This is one of the reasons I chose you as Caesar.”

Eraclius was joking, but Emanuel caught the occasion to talk about another of his doubts:“Father… Why you really chose me as your Caesar despite the fact I was so young?”

“Because you are my heir.”

“Yes, but… I’m still a child, and of consequence you advocated my powers to you. If I’m not still ready, why you gave me a so important title so early?”

“You are smart for your age. Yes, there are other explanations about your early proclamation. When… Your mother died, the Senate wanted I took another bride. They considered it was too risky having a single heir, not counting your uncle, and preferred to reinforce the principle of legitimacy respect to that of adoption in the Imperial succession; but I refused, and I forced the senators to recognize you as Caesar and future Augustus when I will pass away.”

“This however doesn’t make of me a real Caesar; just like Constantine with his father, my actions are controlled by you…”

“The case of Constantine was different. His father didn’t trust him, because in his folly he saw him as a rival more than an ally, because the son was clearly more talented than the father. If that day in Satala Constantine wasn’t practically imprisoned by Wulfila’s brother and stripped of his powers, he will remained loyal to his father till the end.”

“But in the end, he sided with you…”

“To prevent a massacre, and not for opportunism. However, you are right saying it’s not a title to make you a Caesar, or an Augustus. It occurred time, experience, and also the predisposition.”

He put a hand of the head of his child, ruffling his hair:“I’m sure you have the predisposition, but lack still of all the rest. However, It’s time for you to rest.”

Before Eraclius left the room, Emanuel asked him a last thing.

“Do you really loved my mother so much to remain without a wife and an Empress for the rest of your life?”

“Yes.”

(1) I guess it's clear it is a early version of the "Greek fire", developed at least a century before respect its OTL first appearance (siege of Constantinople of 716-717).
(2) New OC, who will be introduced more later in the story.
 
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Chapter Twenty-one: The warrior from the sands

Rome, many years later…

Emanuel didn’t understand how Wulfila kept all that strength despite his advanced age. All his attacks were stopped with unexpected agility from a man in his advanced sixties! And the assaults of the Saxons were really tremendous, if he didn’t had his armor and his shield the Caesar probably will be already to the otherworld.

In the end, the young prince found himself to eat the dust of the ground in the stadium of the Domus Augustana. The Purple Cross and the other soldiers usually used that part of the complex as training grounds; in certain occasion, the Emperor allowed some public ceremonies (generally a religious ceremony), where the population of Rome literally fight to obtain one of the seats. But that morning, the stadium was completely for the two of them.

Emanuel seemed really disappointed from the poor outcome: “I’m not cut to be a warrior. I’m really scarce…”

Wulfila helped him to stand up:“You didn’t go so bad. Your father was much worse the first time I trained him.”

“I don’t believe you. It’s impossible. My father…”

“It’s true. You can ask him if you don’t believe me. His sword slipped almost three times and wasn’t able to hold both the weapon and the shield, as he was really weak. After all, it was only a bookworm when he started.” Wulfila seemed delighted to remember the past training of Eraclius. Then, he continued seriously: “But he worked really hard and in the end became a excellent fighter.”

“He was pushed to the will to revenge his father, right?”

“I never asked but I guessed so. But in my opinion, your father wanted to be a warrior above all to protect his people and the persons he cares. Even at cost to be often engulfed in the middle of the battle.”

Emanuel noticed the Saxon wasn’t fully convinced to the actions of his father:“You don’t approve his behavior during a battle, right?”

“Sincerely? A dead ruler what help could give to his soldiers and his reign?”

“My father never fall in battle, because you and the others will protect him no matter what. Also, you will become annoyed if the Emperor decided to remain on the security of the back lines.”

Wulfila grumbled as simple reply. Emanuel then took the occasion to introduce another argument: “In your opinion, what are the best warriors you had occasion to know?”

“It’s not difficult: your grandfather, Constantine, Aristovigus, and Omar. And of course, your father.”

One of those names caught the Caesar’s attention: “Omar… Wasn’t that Arabian who joined my father and after the reunion of the Empire left to return in his homeland?”

“Yes, and was… Well, I guess he is still one of the best friend of your father…”

“Why you doubted over his friendship with my father?”

“Because…How could someone decided to leave one like your father so abruptly? He is Eraclius Magnus, the second Augustus, the blessed…”

Emanuel looked suddenly to another direction and raised his arm:“Ave, father.”

“What? Where…?”

“Excuse me, Wulfila, but I needed to stop you in some way. Do you know my father hated all that series of titles...” Then, the Caesar returned more serious: “Do you think Omar was disloyal to my father by leaving all of you after the reunification? Maybe, he simply thought that his mission in the Empire was done with the reunification, and felt the reason to return home…”

“This is no sense. Almost all the strict collaborators of your father grew out of the Empire, but in the end all of us accepted to continue to serve him and consider this country as our real homeland… If Omar decided to leave us, it was his guilt, after all. The Emperor shall not consider anymore who betrayed him…”

“It doesn’t seem to me. Some days ago I heard my father and Constantine talking about a letter Omar sent to them. They talked of him with admiration and also with a bit of preoccupation…”

Wulfila was surprised:“I didn’t know this. But your father is the Augustus, right? So if he decides to remain in contact with the Arabian, I will accept this decision.”

“However, do you want to tell me how you met each other?”

“Well…It was during the civil war, at Jerusalem…”

Jerusalem, start of 409

Wulfila didn’t understand the decision of Eraclius. Instead to continue his march towards north, the Emperor decided to stop for a while in Jerusalem. The invasion of Palestine was almost easy, with light losses and skirmishes of not noticeable valor. Jerusalem, still missing a valuable defensive complex since the last Hebrew revolt, surrendered to them without opposing resistance, fearing a bloodshed. The Patriarch of the city offered submission and mercy: he was spared, but forced to dismiss from his title. Many notables who joined with Phocas made the same end, and substituted with others loyal to Eraclius. The young Emperor however respected the rights of the local population and appointed local officers.

Then, he started to visit the churches of the city, in particular that of the Holy Sepulcher where the True Cross stood. He seemed however disappointed of the decline Jerusalem was living, even if it was the holiest city of both Judaism and Christianity. Eraclius then took some important decisions. In few days, he called all the most important notables of the region to discuss his projects; with general surprise, also the leaders and the rabbi of the now scarce Hebrew community were called.

After receiving the homage from the Ghassanides, who accepted his rule discharging Phocas, Eraclius told to the crowd the conditions of the Holy Land were inacceptable both for Christianity and for the Empire, and some reforms were needed to revitalize it. He then turned to the Hebrew leaders and informed him they could allow the return of their dispersed people in their homeland and to live freely their religion, revoking all the repressive laws enacted since Hadrian’s reign and promising protection from the persecutions of the Church; but he imposed some conditions. First, the Hebrews who lived ewerywhere in the Empire must accept the fact to be Imperial citizens, once and forever, and to accept the judgment of the Emperor (of course, after that of God); second, the ground where the Temple stood will be of exclusive Imperial property, so the Emperor will dispose of it in all ways he wanted; third, the practice of circumcision will be allowed again but only when the destined had the reasonable age to freely choice to want it or not. He proposed the ceremony of Bar Mitzvah as ideal moment for the rite. The Hebrews in the hall weren’t so extremely happy of the Imperial proposals, but for now accepted; at least, the current Emperor offered them the possibility to reorganize their shattered community all across the Empire.

But many wanted to know what Eraclius wanted to do of the ground of the Temple; the reply was simple. The Emperor wanted to build a new Temple in the middle on it (1), but consecrated to the Christian rites and where will be placed the True Cross, as symbol of the “third alliance” between God and humanity. When the Hebrews tried to protest, Eraclius promised they will have the possibility to build in the ground area their own Temple, on the southern side of it (2). The place select was quite large (even if not as large like the main Christian complex), because the Emperor decided it will be the only Hebrew religious site into the city walls (but allowed, if it will be insufficient for the Hebrew community, to build other synagogues out of them); also, Eraclius promised to return them the Menorah of the old Temple, currently in Constantinople, after the end of the civil war.

But the plans of renovations of Jerusalem will not will ended. To protect the city, Eraclius decided to improve the old city defenses, for the moment by using the stone of the far southern walls which protected quarters inhabited; but after the war, he will rebuild the ruins of the former Antonia fortress, to give protection to the ground in case of enemy invasion, a shelter for the population, and a proper court for the Imperial family when came to visit the Holy City. Lastly, Jerusalem will return to be the capital of the region, which will be recalled Judaea, a compromise which partially satisfied the Christians (Jesus was called Judean in the New Testament, after all) and the Hebrews (who preferred the term Israel). There were some protests from the magistrates of Caesarea, but Eraclius promised their city will remain the main port of the region and that the pilgrim routes towards the Holy City will be concentrate on it.

Wulfila then was convinced on the fact Eraclius was ready to move towards Syria, but the Emperor prevented him again; first, he wanted to consecrate the site where the new Temple will rise, as he believed “his birth (yes, he talked of the Temple as a living thing) will protect all of us from the future menaces”. The Saxon was exasperated and tried to talk with Aristovicus, but the prince only said: “If the Emperor says so, we must oblige.”. So, he spent the time by keeping the soldiers in exercise in the case the enemy approached them…

The day prior the official consecration of the new Temple

It was the first time in years that Jerusalem wasn’t so lively. All the taverns and the hostels in the city and the surroundings were full of visitors arrived to assist the ceremonies of foundation of the new Temple of Jerusalem and the new Synagogue. According to the news, the main site will be a quadrangular Roman basilica, as Eraclius preferred to not give it a shape of a cross (in fact the Temple will be a religious site for both Latin and Greek rite, so it must be more “neutral” as possible; also, the quadrangular shape will remember more the old Temple).

The nineteen year old Omar ibn Al-Khattab (3) didn’t understand why he remained still in Jerusalem. Maybe, for curiosity to see the young Emperor during the ceremony; but above all, because he didn’t know if was better to return in Arabia or to remain in the Empire. All his past life was completely shattered after coming in contact with the predication of Mohammed (4), who talked of his revelations about the only God. Allah. When his ruthless father discovered all, he was forced to escape from his tribe. But despite the fact the Prophet was so convincing in his predication, the young man personally had still doubts. For the first time since millennia, the sands of Arabia were in turmoil. In the city of Mecca, the religious disorders increased day by day; so, before taking a definitive side, he decided to visit Jerusalem, because if there was a place where God was more present than another, it was surely that city. Omar talked with Hebrews rabbi, Christians priests, and even with Zoroastrians adepts, but he didn’t found the answers he wanted.

He was now walking around the ruins of the ground, until he reached a quite large pool. According to the legend, it was the pool where Bathsheba was bathing when King David saw her for the first time. The place was so quiet that he sat under a palm tree to better reflect what to do. A crescent moon reflected its image on the water and Omar contemplated it.

Suddenly, Omar noticed in a black angle two figures who acted like they didn’t want to be discovered. He was quite curious and decided to follow them. He was really silent despite he was a big man; his injured leg, fruit of a past fight, helped him to move with caution. The Arabian arrived near the men just in time to see a third person coming. Luckily for Omar, they talked in Latin. Despite the fact the Arabians traded almost with the Greek-speaking part of the Empire, Omar wasn’t able to speak Greek properly. Latin was more congenial to him.

The third person, who seemed the leader of the group, spoke for first:“So, are you ready?”

“Yes, we will act today during the ceremony.”

“Good. Make sure the boy will fall under your arrows. If you succeed, the Emperor will be pleased and will covered you of gold.”

“Wait a moment, we just want to talk about our reward… We heard Eraclius is protected by a sort of divine protection as Emperor… They said if someone harmed him in some way he will be cursed for the eternity.”

They wanted to kill Eraclius! There are surely assassins under the order of Phocas.

“Eraclius is not an Emperor! He wasn’t recognized from the Senate of Constantinople, so he is an usurper! Anyway, I repeat Phocas will be really generous with you if you took him down. Here’s a first “ He gave them a bag full of Byzantes. “You will receive even more at task concluded.”

“We want also some lands possessions, and a rank promotion.”

“ I repeat, kill the boy and you will be rewarded from the Caesar in person. He will wait you at Damascus for the good news.”

And the man left the two assassins. Omar reflected immediately what to do. Inform the Emperor, it seemed the most reasonable solution; but that will not protect him from a future attack. The assassins must be stopped in some way: so, he decided to follow them. He didn’t understand in that moment entered into something more bigger of any possible expectation…

The morning of the celebration

The two assassins prepared their bows. They selected an abandoned building in the ground of the Temple, not controlled by the Imperial guards, and waited for the arrival of the procession. When it arrived, the Emperor was leading it. He wore a purple hood which covered most of his face. However, his moves, his dresses, the same purple mantle didn’t leave doubts over his identity. The two assassins were ready to strike when heard a voice behind them.

“In your place, I will give up.”

They looked behind and saw a huge Arabian, his arms crossed, and a grin of match. The assassin’s instinctive move was to shot towards him, but despite his size and the leg injured Omar was able to avoid both the arrows. “Fine, it seems you deserved a punition at this point.”

The assassins took their swords, one of them saying audaciously: “Hah! You were lucky to avoid the arrows at so near distance, but you are unharmed and alone, and we are two and armed, so…”

“So, maybe you should follow his advice.” Omar was surprised to be approached by two persons, with hoods on their heads and armed with swords too. The person who talked seemed really young, as he was more high of him at least of a head and half; but the other person was quite more tall of all the present.

The assassins didn’t seem to have lost their arrogance: “It seems the reinforcements were arrived… And this chum wanted to impose his authority, like he was the Emperor in person…”

“Maybe it’s because I am the Emperor.” His hood was removed, revealing Eraclius’s gray-white eyes. Wulfila removed too his cape.

“The Emperor Eraclius…So, the boy on the procession…” They all had the instinct to turn towards the “fake” Emperor. Alessia removed her cape, while Aristovicus gave order to a group of soldiers to move towards the building.

One of the two assassins was scared: “I knew it… He is protected by something of unnatural!”

“We have no choices, this is the opportunity to conclude our mission!” The other assassin then launched over Eraclius, only by being stopped from a punch in face from Omar. The violence of the punch made him lost the balance and felt from the building. The remained thug tried an assault too, only to be slaughtered by Wolfila.

Eraclius however wasn’t pleased of the brief fight. “I told you I don’t want to kill them if possible… I wanted the site preserved the most possible by bloodshed, to not contaminate it.”

“I’m sorry, Augustus… But my duty was that to protect you no matter what.”

The Emperor sighed. “Fine. This building isn’t incorporated in the area of the new Temple, but it is still in the ground sector. Later we will make an expiatory ceremony. By the way, I shall thank you for the help…” He turned toward the Arabian. “Even I don’t understand why and how you are involved in this matter. We knew there was an attempt to kill me and we tracked those two to caught them in the right moment, so I prepared a bait while I was busy with them…”

“I simply heard them this night when they talked of the plan with a third man… I decided to follow them because I can’t let them realize their project… even if I probably messed all, Augustus. I’m sorry.”

“Well, I guess we could talk of this later at dinner… what’s your name, whatever?”

“Omar. Omar ibn Al-Khattab, Augustus.”

“Fine, Omar ibn Al-Khattab. We will talk with more calm later. But now there is a foundation celebration to host.”

Few hours later

The foundation ceremony of the new Temple, aside with that of the Synagogue, was a success. The two sites will become the two most important of Jerusalem. But Eraclius promised to the new patriarch also the Holy Sepulcher will be enriched and enlarged.

Omar didn’t believe to seat in that moment in front of the Emperor of the Romans, aside with his two cousins, his bodyguard, his preceptor, his personal smith and his son, and his maid (or if he understood correctly, she was the maid of his older cousin, but she served him as well).

During the dinner, after the presentations of circumstance, Omar talked about the meeting of the three men near the pool of Bathsheba. The hirer was dissolved like in the air and the soldiers falied to find him. It was however clear the mandants were the usurper and his son. Procopius didn’t exempt himself to comment: ”Obvious, from the moment Phocas started to lose ground. He wanted to finish the work initiated with the assassination of our beloved previous Emperor…”

Aristovicus was quite vivacious than usual:”This is disgusting. When I become King of the Visigoths, I will never use these kind of tricks to rule.”

Simplicius caught the occasion to tease him:” The day you will become King, the Visigoths will be doomed by your scaring bloody eyes. At least nobody will try to context your rule.”

“Shut up, brat.”

Eraclius however remained silent. Alessia noticed there was something wrong: “Something worried you?”

And then the Emperor spoke:”I don’t share the opinion of Procopius. Constantine will never approve something of so vile. Not him. He is not involved in this matter.”

“But… Omar told us that the hirer told the assassins the Caesar will reward them in case of success.”

“He also told us the assassins had some doubts to fulfill the mission. I think the hirer throw the name of Constantine only to pressure them to accept. This is my sensation.”

Aristovicus felt the need to intervene. To Alessia seemed in his voice there was a pitch of jealousy, but probably she was wrong: “However, even if he is not involved, he remained still a traitor. He accepted to become Caesar and now is waiting us at Damascus.”

“I’m not sure he betrayed completely us. There are other reasons behind his decision. Constantine didn’t accepted to follow his father for lust of power.”

Aristovicus was quite irate now:“Open your eyes, Eraclius, what reasons could have Constantine to become Caesar if not to become Emperor one day?"

Alessia tried to express her opinion:“The loyalty towards his father. He couldn’t betray him.”

“This is a complete bu…”

Eraclius stopped his cousin:“I stick with Alessia. However, we need to identify the hirer to prosecute our investigation. Are you able to describe him, Omar?”

“Hmm… It was night, but the moon gave sufficient illumination to see his face. It was a tall man, I guess about fifty years old, with black hair and a pronounced nose… his blue eyes were like two piercing daggers, and had an pronunciation like that of your guard… To be really honest, his traits were similar to that of Wulfila. Not that I’m accusing him, of course, but it was only to give a general idea…” He didn’t had the time to finish his phrase, because Wulfila immediately stood up from his place and started to move in this direction. Omar thought he wanted to let him pay him for that he just say, but the Saxon passed him and moved towards the exit of the room.

Eraclius tried to stop him: “Wulfila, wait!” But the Saxon continued to talk. “This is an order!” The boy shouted to him. All were surprised, because Eraclius never used that kind of tone before. Wulfila stopped, only to reply: “I’m sorry, Augustus, but I can’t obey this time. I need to stop him before he continued to menace your life… That night at Saint Sophia… now I understand there was his mark behind.”

“And you are going to confront him by alone? You will never succeed. He had over a day of advantage, and you don’t know the geography of the region. Also, if he is travelling with Constantine, he will had at his disposal some of the most brave soldiers for protection… not counting an entire army at his disposal.”

“He can had all the Empire behind, but at this point I’m determinate to chase that snake from his nest and to crush him with my arms!”

“At cost to sacrifice your life?”

“Yes. He was behind the death of your father, so he must die too. Even if I will die in this attempt.”

“And I must accept to lose also you? I lose already my real father, my mother died too, you are like an uncle to me… How many people I love I must see die to rule this Empire?”

“Eraclius…”

“Listen, Wulfila. I…understood your thoughts. But he already left Jerusalem, so it will be useless pursue him right now. Now we must prepare our forces for our advance, I'm sure they are waiting us as Damascus. When we arrived in front of them, we will decide the best course of action. But I need your help."

Eraclius managed to approach Wulfila. But the Saxon seemed to awake from a sort of dream and ran towards an open window. From here, he jumped down, and then he reached the stables, took his horse, and then started to ride without encountering resistance.

The Emperor was approached to the others. They didn’t saw him so…enraged. Surely he was irate to not have convinced Wulfila. Alessia was the first to intervene, as always: “He was running after his brother, right?”

“Yes. But he was taken by his rage as usual and Rainulf will took the advantage to capture him… or worse.”

Procopius was shocked:“Rainulf? But…he escaped years ago from the camp where he was imprisoned, we guessed he returned in Saxony under false disguise, how it’s possible he is now here in Orient and organized an assassination attempt on your persona?”

“It was more simple than you think. He never escaped from that camp. According to my father, it was almost impossible he could kill the guards from his cell…”

Aristovicus understood before the old preceptor:“He was helped by someone. You think it was Phocas, right?”

Eraclius nodded. Then, he seemed to have taking some important decisions: “Anyway, we must prepare for the worse. Procopius, Bagha, inform my officers to prepare the soldiers. In just an hour we must leave Jerusalem.”

“From where?”

“Where the enemy waited us and Wulfila is going right now. To Damascus.”

“As you wish, Augustus.”

Then Eraclius turned to Omar:“Your reward is ready and you can leave when you want. However, Omar ibn Al-Khattab, you unintentionally deprived me of my best soldier. But I must also recognize your skills are impressive. If you want, I wish to hire you as my new bodyguard. But if you decide to go away, I will understand.”

Omar reflected for a moment. From the sands of Arabia and the skirmishes of petty tribes, he suddenly found involved in a vast conflict for the control of the Roman Empire, the greatest nation of the world, and the Emperor (because he was sure, Eraclius deserved his title, despite he was so young) asked him to help in this struggle. Maybe it was this Allah wanted to him?

So, he didn’t had hesitations that time. He bowed in front of Eraclius:“I’m under your orders, Augustus.”

Rome, many years later

Wulfila was putting away the weapons used for the training with Emanuel. The boy asked him to resume the fight, but Simplicius arrived to interrupted them. Seeing the state of the Caesar, the monk took the occasion to criticize him, that he was a barbarian without the proper respect for his lords, that Emanuel was still a child, that her mother will die another time… But Wulfila, instead to reply as usual, remained silent that time. In the end, the two princes left him to give the proper cure to the Caesar, not before Emanuel told him he will enjoy soon another training session with him. But Wulfila started to feel old for that kind of things. The talk with the Caesar left him in a confused state of agitation; so, in order to restore some peace in his mind, he went to his rooms and started to check the status of his arsenal. He was in the middle of the work when Eraclius came to visit him.

“Can I disturb you?”

“No, Augustus, but I was quite busy to control and clean my arsenal…”

“Then, in two we can finish first. So, later we could drink something together…”

“Do you know I don’t like wine…”

“Wine no, but beer yes. The new supplies from Germania just arrived few hours ago.”

“Really? Then I must had the first sip, as usual…” So the two sat together to polish a series of swords.

“By the way, I encountered Emanuel and Simplicius. As always, my cousin had a series of comments about you; but this time he didn't reported me your replies. This time you remained silent, there is something wrong?"

“No, Augustus. Simplicius could tell anything he wants, it’s still a kid. I simply don’t want to argue with him in front of Emanuel."

“You don’t notice exactly when he started to argue with you?”

“Well, he started since the civil war, after…” Wulfila had a sudden realization:“…After the events of Jerusalem and Damascus, right?”

“I sincerely started to believe you never arrived to the solution. You took almost twenty years to understand… But I guess you avoided the issue willfully since this moment.”

“He never forgive me for the mode I treated you in Jerusalem that day, when I decided to chase Rainulf, right?”

“It’s not that he hates you… It’s only that he believes you acted wrongly towards mine regards.”

“And you? You forgave me for my behavior?”

“If the Emperor of the Romans is currently spending his time by helping his Saxon bodyguard to put in order his weapons, do you think he is enraged with him?” Both were smiling. But Wulfila wasn't completely reassured.

Eraclius noticed that, so he continued:“You know I never be irate with you. But that day, I admit I didn’t take your insubordination very well. That was worse, I feared for your life. I was still a child, I just lost my father, and then I had the vision, and then the crowning, and the civil war… It was too much. But I had my friends still, and above all you. You were with me since my birth, and remained always together since that episode of Jerusalem… It was like I was going to lose another father, and for the first time I doubted of my capacities. If I wasn’t able to convince my second, how I could suppose to reign over millions of people?”

Wulfila never understood since now these kind of feelings tormented Eraclius in that period. But he always considered him like the son he never had; however, he grew in a community where the fathers are supposed to be harsh with their heirs to temper to the adversities of the life. Being kinder was a weakness. And now Wulfila cursed the mode how he was educated, because now he lived in a nation more civilized, where the human relationships were more refined, and Eraclius suffered too much and he was a idiot to not properly comprehend he needed more a fatherly figure respect to a bodyguard, and…

Suddenly, he heard Eraclius chuckled: “What’s going on?”

“Sorry, Wulfila… but you are really funny when you think too much. Your face contorts in a series of expressions they didn’t help me but laugh.”

Wulfila, visibly embarassed, decided to change matter:“By the way, I was talking with Emanuel about Omar. He told me you are still in contact with him.”

“It was a secret. How did he knew this?”

“He heard you talking with Constantine, days ago. Omar is going to create trouble?”

“Not yet. Anyway, you shall abandon your grudge with him. In the end, he was him who saved you that day at Damascus…”

“Yes, but after the mode he judged you when he left…”

“He only expressed his personal opinions, even if roughly. Also, Omar is alimented by a fire different than mine. The battles we shared together were a sort of preparation for his destiny. Soon, he and his Prophet will unite Arabia for the first time under a single banner. One day, we could be allies… or enemies.”

But Eraclius was now thinking of something worse:“However, I’m not worried about him right now. The Persians remained too quiet in these last decades.”

“I’m not sharing your preoccupations. They always failed to invade the Empire and since the reign of your father we are in peace with them. I’m sure they accepted the current status quo. Also, they will be a bunch of idiots if they try to match Eraclius Magnus, the second Augustus, the blessed…”

“Wulfila…”

“Oh…Sorry. But our two countries beneficiated of this long peace, why someone wanted to break it so suddenly?

“I hope so, Wulfila, I hope so…”

But this hope was destined to not endure. In fact, few moments later a really worried Constantine reached them, some dispatches in his hand. Eraclius read them and his expression became really sad. It wasn’t need a genius to understand something of really bad was going on. Wulfila however didn’t have the time to ask an explanation because Eraclius started to talk: “The Persians launched about a month ago a full scale attack from the source of the Euphrates to the gulf of Aelana (5). Our garrisons failed to pull away the assaults. Almost all of Syria felt, Satala was destroyed, the Ghassanides forced to submit to the invaders, and Jerusalem is under siege.”

Then, he made a deep breath: “So, we are in war again. And this time, it is the West’s turn to help the East…”

(1) In OTL Dome of the Rock, to be more clear.
(2) In OTL Al-Aqsa Mosque.
(3) I opted for the more advanced date about Omar’s birth, around 590 AD.
(4) The predication of Muhammad started a bit before than OTL to fit it better into the story.
(5) OTL Eilat.
 
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Intermission four

Extract from "Cities of the Empire: Jerusalem":

"...The capital of Judaea-Israel was reshaped under the reign of Eraclius, in order to give new splendor of the city of the three faiths. The works lasted for years, because between the civil war of 608, the last Roman-Persian war, and the first Roman-Arabian war, the city suffered of other sieges and devastation.

Eraclius however gave priority to the defensive structures: the Emperor gave order to dismantle the most southern walls and the surrounding buildings, because Hadrian's city was too large for the population of the time. At the time of the last Roman-Persian war, the complex of the new Antonia fortress was completed, gave shelter to the population during the siege; but because the walls around the ground of the Temples were incomplete, the Persians raided the area and took for themselves the True Cross and the Great Menorah, and destroying the first foundations of the New Temple and the First Synagogue.

After the conclusion of the conflict and the return of the two relics, the city finally completed its defensive complex, just in time to resist the Arabian siege. In the meanwhile, the works of the New Temple and the First Synagogue started again, even if the ground started to assume its basic structure only after the agreement between Eraclius and Omar in 644, which allowed the Caliph to build a Mosque in the ground. Omar chose the North-Eastern angle, where he placed the rock where is supposed Mohammad ascended to Paradise. So the Mosque of Omar, more know as Mosque of the Rock, started to took shape.

So, the ground of the Temple was from that moment called the ground of the Temples, where millions of pilgrims from all the world came to visit them until today.

Meanwhile, the quarters of the city were organized. Initially, it was supposed the Christians will habitate in the North and the Hebrews in the South of the Temple way; but after the spread of Islam, Emanuel I, during the period of the first Caliphs, agreed to the Muslims to live in the north-Eastern sector, but kept the prohibition to not build Synagogues or Mosques into the city walls, which remained until the period of the Crusades.

Just below there is a map of Jerusalem during the reign of Eraclius: In red are the wall kept or builded (the fortress Antonia was in the north-west of the ground sector), in yellow the walls destroyed, in orange the division of the quarters of the city. In the ground, the brown shape is the site of the New Temple, that green is that of the First Synagogue (in truth, also the Hebrews called it New Temple, but it is considered also the main Hebrew religious site, hence the more used term), that purple is the Mosque of Omar, better know of the Dome.

Because of the further division of the three great monotheistic religions, which caused some order trouble in Jerusalem, still today the ground and the three sites are under direct Imperial jurisdiction..."

Jerusalem under Eraclius.png
 
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