The Children of Johan in the New Lands, 1344-1973 - a spin off of "Isaac's Empire"

BG are you sure the year is correct? In 1356 the Emperor was Isaac III and not Theophilos II! Or is this Theophilos an unknown Grand Logothete?
 
You're not wrong with the date. But focus on what I said. What this little tale is going to be about, not whom. Our narrator and main character is not a man who appears in the IE narrative, he's a quiet, "backroom boy".

OK, is this tale going to be about Theophilius' famous expedition to Africa? Or, if too late, maybe his earlier campaigns against Ghazan Khan II of Persia?
 
She’d been a screamer, I remember that. Back in my youth, I’d always found that vaguely irritating in a prostitute, personally favouring those who shut up and got on with the task in hand. But then, one rarely got the opportunity to shag an Arab in those days, and certainly not in Old Rome. And, I dimly recall, it was a very passable shag, certainly worth every ounce of gold in the Nomisma I’d saved up from a week’s wages once I’d heard there were Arabs in town.

I never had time to reflect on it, though. Exiting the brothel, I suddenly found myself surrounded by armed men, dressed in the drab uniforms of the Papal Guard. The captain of the Guard, a portly fellow in his mid-forties was familiar to me- we’d worked together a few months back catching a thief in the Papal library. Now, though, his normally beaming face wore only a dark frown. He failed to make eye contact.

“Errikos Basileos”, he began; using, I noted, the formal Rhomanian form of my name- “I am here from the Lateran Palace, under orders of his Honourable Holiness the Kamemarios. You are to be escorted into the Holy Presence, and remain there until his Holiness sees fit”.

Well now, I thought, as the soldiers formed a tight phalanx about me, this was most interesting. Ever since the Holy Father and Patriarch Samuel had departed Old Rome to take up the throne of the New five years before, the Kamemarios had been the highest authority in all of Italy. Such was the extent of his power that he had even eclipsed the Catapan in Panormos. It was widely known that the Kamemarios was the only real confidant of the Pope-Emperor in the West, perhaps, even, in the whole Empire. And now, I was being taken into the man’s presence. What the devil did he want with me?


The Lateran Palace was an impressive building. It’d been restored under the Emperor George the Italian about a century before, and was decorated inside with gorgeous mosaic art, depicting George and his wife Zoe engaging in all sorts of holy activities, washing the feet of the poor, tending flocks of sheep and lambs, dedicating newly discovered icons. I crossed myself several times as we passed through the building, and made a mental note to confess my sins at the earliest opportunity. After all, who knew when the Almighty might choose to judge me?

To my surprise, I was led away from the main halls and down a long corridor, decorated with mosaics and statues of triumphant Emperors, all the way from the Blessed Constantine to David the Nazarene, the most recent occupant of the throne before Samuel. I was ushered into a small room, and then the soldiers left me alone.

It was a dark room, lit by a roaring fire, and a welcome contrast to the chill outside, which, even in March, was creeping in as evening approached. Stood at a large, marble-topped desk, were two men. One of them dominated the room- large, shaven-headed and aggressive looking. I wouldn’t have liked to have run into him on a dark night. But he wasn’t the one to whom my attention was drawn. Instead, I couldn’t help myself but be drawn to his companion.

The second man was small and thin, with neatly combed and short black hair. I couldn’t estimate his age, though he couldn’t have been much younger than forty, and was probably nearer fifty. His hands scurried about the desk, moving papers and documents around, back and forth, occasionally rapidly scrawling across one of them with a brightly coloured quill. His eyes were, proportionally, huge, and had the effect of making him look somewhat awkward and gangly, like one of the children at my school who’d been bullied by all. Most noticeably of all was his hunchback, and I noticed a wince of pain as he looked up at me.

“You are Enrico Baseggio?” His questioning, in Latin, was direct and to the point. Suddenly uncomfortably aware of who the short man was, I swallowed and nodded.

“I will forgive you for your impudence in merely standing before me. I am the Kamemarios of Rome, the deputy of his Imperial Holiness. This (he gestured to the tall man) is my friend and assistant, Magnus. Magnus is a Bithynian and speaks no Latin, so, rest assured, our conversation will remain in strictest secret between you and I. I expect you’re wondering why I’ve brought you here?”

“Yes, your honour. I can assure you I’ve not broken the law. In fact, I’ve worked in the Lateran before, you may have heard…”

The Kamemarios cut me off with a little flick of his wrist, almost as if he were swatting off a fly. “That’s not what I want of you, Enrico. I am indeed aware of your work in the Lateran last year, and was impressed with your efficiency and loyalty to Holy Mother Church. I also know you are a tutee to pupils at the Imperial Academy, and I hear your knowledge is impressive for a man of your age. That being so, I have decided to… reward you, for your services to the Church.”

“Thank you, your Honour.”

That same irritated flick of the wrist silenced me. “As you may be aware, three years ago, the Spanish broke away from Mother Church, and are currently engaged in blackest heresy. Our agents have even suggested to us that their King is courting the False Prophet of the Desert Faith, and is considering raising him to the status of a Saint in the Spanish Church. Since, in our kindness, we seek to divert them from this undoubted descent into Hell’s embrace, we need someone of education and ability to go to the Ruling City to compile enough evidence to dissuade the Spanish from this course of action”.

I quickly turned this over in my mind. It seemed unlikely to me that the Empire was particularly interested in the antics of Spanish heretics- it’d only been a couple of decades before that we’d crushed heresy on our own without much difficulty, and no dossiers of evidence had been needed then. It had been all blood and violence in those days, or so my mother told me, when my father had led a battalion of soldiers and died in the fighting. I had no desire to get caught up in anything like that.

“Much as I am honoured that you would consider me for such an assignment, sir, I’m afraid I cannot accept. I must stay in Old Rome to care for my mother”.

The Kamemarios looked at me in polite fury. His companion, on the other hand, looked ready to explode. Lunging across the table at me, he cursed in Rhomanian “You dare speak in such a way to us?! My master should have you flogged and thrown into the Milanese death pits!”

“Magnus…” The Kamemarios’ tone was gently threatening, speaking now in Rhomanian. “That will do.”

“If that is your final answer, Enrico, then I must accept it. But, before I do so, I must say I am impressed at your dedication to your mother. Plenty of sons would jump at the opportunity to see the Ruling City, parents or not. Why do you persist in your loyalty to an old woman who can offer you very little?”

“I am all Mother has. It wouldn’t be Christian to abandon her.”

The Kamemarios smiled broadly. “Quite so. And, I’m sure you’d agree, it would be equally un-Christian to go cavorting with desert whores behind her back?”

My heart sank. The Kamemarios, it seemed, had backed me into a corner. There was no escape now. He must have seen my facial expression, because he smiled still more broadly, and switched back into Latin.

“Come now, Enrico, we can help each other here. You will go to Constantinople to find me the evidence I need, and, in return, I’ll personally make sure your mother enjoys the finest care in all of Rome. And she needn’t hear about any of your little indiscretions.”

I nodded, struck dumb by the man’s effortless triumph over me. The Kamemarios smiled still more broadly, his large eyes quivering with mirth in their sockets.

“Then, dear Enrico, I salute you for your loyalty to the Church. You will travel with the party of Saracens that I brought to Rome in order to escort you to the City. I wish you a pleasant voyage, and eagerly await your return to us come the autumn.”

And with that, I was off, bundled out of the Lateran, hurriedly explaining things to my tearful mother, and then off down to Ostia with that party of grim faced Arabs. I didn’t know it then, but my real life began that day. The Ruling City, the New Rome, the Citadel of Emperors awaited me. I was sailing for Constantinople.
 
Excellent stuff. Just to be clear - did the Bithynian guard actually understand Latin after all?

He had a very loose grasp of the language, which is understandable, given Latin is pretty meaningless outside the Uniate Church in northern Italy, and everyone who's anyone in the contemporary Church will be fluent in Rhomanian anyway.
 
Very nice tale, BG!

I wasn't ever aware of the existence of an office of 'Kamemarios' in the Roman Church before. Is this title an innovation of 300 years of IE from the TL POD, or is it based on a historical office which existed IOTL?
 
Last edited:
...certainly worth every ounce of gold in the Nomisma I’d saved up from a week’s wages...

Just a query about this detail, though, BG (you'd expect nothing less from IE's Chief Economist/Treasurer! :p)...

A nomisma is 1/72th of a pound of Roman gold, so unless Enrico earns a very special nomisma in pay per week, there are no ounces in his gold coin at all (just 1 and one-third drams of gold, which is about 17% of an ounce).

Enrico's pay of one gold coin a week (or 8.67 ounces of gold a year) is an absolute fortune compared with what most people then alive earn in 14th century Europe, let alone one so young - but could this be due to his very special qualities as an 'investigator' and scholar of sorts? I would recommend that the 'nomisma' in question actually be a miliaresion silver coin...

Look forward to reading more! :)
 
Last edited:
BG decided to launch a reboot of his original TL and, as this is a spin-off of Isaac's Empire, we cannot post here until we know what actually will happen and how the world will have changed by the 17th/18th century. This, coupled with Megas' work for the Olympics, has effectively put this thread on hiatus.

Still, and I'm speaking for the whole team here, I feel honored that you miss our humble updates! :)

If you want to follow IE 2.0, click here.
 
Just seen your post from July now BC. Nice to know that you are still entering my dusty old house to keep an eye on things and to sweep up the cobwebs! :p

Well the Olympics, obviously, are over and now the Dux is turning to new employment at what we call the Care Quality Commission (don't bother Googling it really isn't that exciting) here in the UK: so things may be a little more relaxing now and - who knows - there may be a little chronos to devote to the Paidia tou Ioannou... ;)
 
Holy German Empire 1176-1600: Internal structure & the growth of imperial authority

A previously unpublished "think-piece" from the world of IE 1.0, which I wrote a couple of years ago when thinking about how the Holy German Empire developed and functioned after the Romans expelled the Germans from Italy.

This may be useful to BG as he thinks about German developments for IE 2.0, or to Ares 96 as he makes plans for a medieval German Scandinavia.


-----------------------------------------------------------------

After the Roman expulsion of German influence from Italy, the title ‘King of the Germans’ disappears and that of the ‘Emperor of the Germans’ arises.

Germany, as IOTL, has powerful nobles who are 'Electors' and can choose who the Emperor of the Germans will be. An Emperor chosen by the Elector nobles is Emperor-Elect (as in OTL); he only becomes Holy German Emperor after he is crowned by the Parisian Pope.

When France is divided in 1184 with the Anglo-Normans, the Germans occupy the north of the country up to the Seine. The Germans already control the Kingdom of Burgundy before the conquest, so that means that the Germans take over the following French territories:

1. County of Flanders
2. County of Artois
3. County of Champagne
4. Archbishopric of Rheims (where the Kings of France had been crowned)

I propose that the 'Electorate of Laon' consist of the three counties above, with the Counts taking it in turns (every year) to be Elector. This would be consistent with the Imperial policy of producing weak Electors, who will not be able to demand too much of the Emperors.

In the reign of Conrad II, the Electorate is raised to the dignity of a Duchy, with the Emperor himself as Duke, and the capital of the Empire in Laon itself. Conrad chooses Laon, which was a church-state, ostensibly to demonstrate his piety towards the new Parisian Pope Thomas I – in fact the Emperor wants to keep an eye on him to ensure he is fully under Imperial control. Conrad’s successor, Frederick I, does not want to be based so far west in the Empire. He also doesn’t want to create another Duchy with a powerful Elector, so after Conrad’s death he allows the title to fall into abeyance.

Henry VI and his centralising successors appoint French nobility from the Electorate of Laon to various key positions across the Empire – boosting their loyalty and wealth, while diminishing that of the great German nobility.

So the following are the provinces of the German Empire (the ones in bold being the ones with the traditional right to Elect an Emperor):

1. Duchy of Lower Lotharingia (Lorraine)
2. Duchy of Upper Lotharingia (Lorraine)
3. Duchy of Saxony
4. Duchy of Franconia
5. Duchy of Swabia
6. Duchy of Bavaria

7. Duchy of Bohemia
8. Kingdom of Burgundy
9. Langraviate* of Thuringia
10. Margraviate** of Brandenburg
11. Margraviate** of Lusatia
12. Margraviate** of Landsberg
13. Margraviate** of Meissen
14. Landgraviate* of Friesland

Significant Church-States in the Empire are:

• Archbishopric of Cologne
• Archbishopric of Mainz
• Archbishopric of Trier


In the years to come the following territories (and Electors) are added:

15. Electorate of Laon (Counties of Flanders, Artois and Champagne)
16. Pomerania (taken over and added to the Margraviate of Brandenburg)

17. Prussia and the Lithuanian/Livonian coast (by the Teutonic Knights)
18. Denmark (divided into the Landgraviate*** of Schleswig and Landgravitate of Cimbria)
19. Sweden (divided into the Landgraviates*** of Gotaland and Uppland)
20. Norway (divided into the Landgraviates*** of Getia and Grania)
21. Archbishopric of Rheims

*A Landgraviate is a sort of Count holding fealty directly to the Emperor. These were otherwise semi-independent territories under the rule of their Landgrave.

**A Margrave (English: Marquis) is a “Marcher Lord”: a sort of Count with military responsibilities on the border of the Empire. Otherwise, his realm is semi-independent.

***These Landgraviates are special: their rulers are governors appointed directly by the Emperor to rule over the conquered colonies of Denmark, Sweden and Norway for a limited number of years. There are also two such provinces for each colony, to prevent a governor from building up too much of a power-base. In reality these Landgraves treat the colonies as money-making opportunities and typically oppress the people greatly.

The Reichstag

The Reichstag consists of 3 classes (as in OTL and with the same names):

First Class – The Council of Electors:

This consists of 12 Prince-Electors once the Golden Bull of Aachen is issued in 1216. If there is deadlock a rotating Elector acting as Chair would cast the deciding vote.

Second Class – The Council of Princes (text below from Wiki):

This consisted of the other princes. The Council of Princes was divided into two "benches," one for secular rulers and one for ecclesiastical ones. Higher-ranking princes had individual votes, while lower-ranking princes were grouped into "colleges" by geography. Each college had one vote.

Third Class – The Council of Imperial Cities (text below adapted from Wiki):

Imperial Cities were jurisdictionally free of the great lords; they held a Charter from (and answered directly to) the Emperor. They were divided into three colleges: Swabia, the Rhine and Coast. Each college had one collective vote. The Council of Imperial Cities was not fully equal to the others; it could not vote on several matters such as the admission of new territories.

The Counts Palatine

These officials are imperial appointees in all the Duchies of the Empire. Their task is to look after the Emperor’s lands and interests in each Duchy (and to ensure that the local Duke does not become over-mighty).

After the foundation of the Teutonic Knights, each Count Palatine receives a sizeable detachment of Teutonic Knights to act as his “enforcers” in each Duchy.

The Teutonic Knights

This is a Crusading Order set up by the Emperor and the Parisian Pope to conquer and Christianise the pagans of the Baltic. The Knights rapidly achieve progress in the lands of Prussia, Lithuania and Livonia.

After striking a deal with the Emperor to provide Knights for his Counts Palatine in the Duchies, the Großmeister (Grand Master) becomes de facto independent in his lands.

Another senior Knight, the Hochmeister (High Master) becomes responsible for the Knights within the Empire proper and is a close confidant of the Emperor.

The heads of the Teutonic Chapter Houses in the Duchies are Kapitelmeisters.

How the Emperor expands imperial authority at the expense of the great nobility

After 1184

Henry VI brings in loyal Frenchmen from the conquered Counties of Flanders, Artois and Champagne and deploys them as Counts Palatine in each of the Duchies to look after imperial lands and interests.

1184-1198

This is the period of the so-called ‘French Palatinate’ – when French nobles are placed in high office all over the Empire (not just as Counts Palatine). This is bitterly resented by German nobles and particularly by the Dukes who despise the “rival power bases” within their own territories.

1198-1202

This is the period of the ‘Saxon Savagery’, where not just Saxony but Lotharingia, Brandenburg, Lusatia and other lands in the north expel their Frenchmen, and other imperial officials, and try to return to the status quo ante. The southern Duchies, where the Emperor’s ancestors came from, hold firm and support the Emperor Conrad II.

1202-1255

This is the period of Imperial consolidation of power and foreign conquest. The Emperor keeps the great lords and their retainers busy with crushing revolts and wars abroad. In 1216 a Golden Bull issued by the Emperor in Aachen formalises the Electoral college system in the Reichstag.

In 1220, the Reichstag is bullied into passing a law requiring Dukes and Counts of the Empire to seek an Imperial Decree from the Emperor before they can muster an army of feudal retainers greater than 500 men.

In 1222, Counts Palatine gain the right to maintain three Quaestores (Inspectors) in their provinces at public expense. Their role is to travel around the province and inspect the castles, armouries and mobilisation arrangements of the local Dukes – ostensibly in order to know what the total armed strength of the Empire is (but in reality to make sure the Dukes are not mustering forces against the Emperor).

The Parisian Pope Henry I calls for a Crusade against the pagans of the Baltic; to facilitate this, the Teutonic Knights are founded in 1226.

In 1236, Counts Palatine gain the command of Chapter Houses of Teutonic Knights (with 200 Knights each) in their provinces. 100 Knights are stationed with the Count Palatine at all times; the other 100 are split into bands of 10 or 20 and constantly roam the province, noting what they see in the towns and villages, and keeping the Emperor’s Law (summarily if need be).

1255-1503

This is the period of the Parisian Inquisition. By and large (except for the Excommunication Years of 1379-86) this is used to crush dissent in the Empire and its colonies. The Emperor often colludes with the Inquisitors to have political opponents or rivals (up to and including the rank of Duke) charged with heresy. An atmosphere of fear and suspicion pervades the entire land, forcing neighbours to watch each other for signs of heresy.

Gradually, the Duchies break up into smaller units such as Baronies and other small fiefdoms. Meanwhile, the Emperor’s own lands increase, especially following a Law passed by the Reichstag in 1436, which requires that any titled noble who dies without an heir immediately forfeits his property to the Crown not the local Duke or other ruler.

In 1442, the power and wealth of the Emperor increases dramatically when he appoints himself Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights and appropriates their properties and rights in the Empire.

While the Dukes lose real political power in their Duchies, they start to gravitate to the Court at Hamburg, where they buy fine houses and lands and engage in an endless round of socialising and courtly intrigue. Some Dukes, who are successful in this environment, become powerful again – although as the Emperor’s Ministers executing his will, running his administration or leading his armies in war.

In 1454, modern railways come to the Empire – enabling the Emperor’s soldiers, spies and officials to go about their duties in a faster and more effective way.

1503-1600

The Emperor is able to use modern technology and transportation developments to project his power beyond Europe to his colonies in Johannia and beyond.

However, the Emperor’s absolute authority means that the quality of his decision-making in peace or war determines whether the Empire suffers take over from the colonies (e.g. the rise of the Haffenstaufens in 1526), expands the navy and upsets the European balance of power (as in 1565) or achieves industrial dominance (such as when it attains the greatest coal production levels in the world in 1579).

In 1598-1600, the relationship between the Emperor and the Reichstag reaches breaking point because many of the most prosperous trading cities on the coast (e.g. Calais, Bruges, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Amsterdam and Bremen) have insufficient representation in the Council of the Imperial Cities to make a difference on trade and economic legislation. Similarly, the great coal barons in the Ruhr have even less direct say – and are forced to purchase votes in the Council of Princes to have their voices heard. There are many grumbles that the old order reflects less and less the realities of the modern age…
 
Last edited:
Top