Chapter 614: The Rubicon
Alexios opted to stay in Edirne, shouldering the responsibility of overseeing the post-conquest transition. He was pivotal in establishing the new regime and spearheading the overhaul of infrastructure, transforming Edirne into a strategic frontier and crucial supply hub for Antonius and his loyalists.
The name ’Edirne’ had faded into history, replaced prominently by ’Adrianople’ inscribed on walls and signposts. Yet, the whispers of its old name would linger for years before the locals truly embraced its new identity.
Antonius, with the fiery spirit of a leader and backed by his formidable force of eight thousand soldiers, embarked on another journey after a week’s sojourn in the city. Time was of the essence. His spies informed him that the Senate was in a frenzy, mobilizing defences and recalling garrisons. They yearned for a miraculous defence akin to the famed Siege of Constantinople, just thirteen years prior. To the Senate, Antonius was a pariah, dubbed ’hostis publicus’ or the public enemy, with a staggering bounty on his head, offering territories he controlled.’
The Ecumenical Patriarch, too, is forced to excommunicate him by the senate, which is really funny because Antonius has never been baptised by an Orthodox church, and combining with the fact that Antonius has already been declared as unwelcomed by the Church of Roma, Antonius is now neither a Catholic nor an Orthodox.
"It seems like I am receiving the same kind of treatment as Julius Caesar." Antonius said to his followers by his side. "I now find myself painted in the same strokes as Julius Caesar, branded ’hostis publicus’."
Helios, ever pragmatic, responded, "Alas, your Majesty, there is no Rubicon for us to dramatically cross here."
Antonius cast a backward glance, his gaze catching the stern faces of his Varangian guards, their armour reflecting the day’s light, axes gleaming menacingly, and scars telling tales of countless battles. Then there were the legions: soldiers whose shining armour and weapons seemed to set the world ablaze under the sun. Their collective might make the earth tremble, especially the thunderous hooves of the diverse cavalry – the Steppe warriors, Mamluks, Pechenegs, and Turks. A swell of pride surged within Antonius. In his heart, he knew his army rivalled, if not surpassed, Caesar’s famed Gaelic legions.
Antonius stopped his mount, with the troops behind him faithfully coming to a stop as well.
He pulled out his blade, drew a line on the soil, and then poured his wine onto the Earth forming a small ditch.
Raising his weapon, his voice boomed, "Behold, our Rubicon! Comrades, if glory is what you seek, if you dream of reviving the Imperium Romanum’s legacy, stone our Greater Roman Thinking into place and aspire to build brighter futures for you and your families, cross this Rubicon with me! But, if doubt clouds your heart, leave now, with my blessing!"
"March! March! March!" The soldiers pulled out their weapons, and with a roar they expressed their loyalty and willingness for the upcoming battle.
"Today we march on Rome!" Antonius sheaved his blade, and crossed that simple ditch he made, first. The troops behind him soon followed.
The small ditch, or the supposed ’River of Rubicon’ soon disappeared under the boots of the marching soldiers, but this action they have done today, the River of Rubicon in their hearts and minds, will never fade away.
There is one tragic news though, the peninsula of Erdek has fallen, stormed by the reinforcement troops of Zaganos Pasha. The Ottoman remnants in Anatolia burnt down all the newly built towns and villages of the Romans, enslaved all the inhabitants, with few managed to escape, venting his rage on the innocent.
Another thousand plus lives lost amidst the conflicts between the two regional powers, forming nothing but a glimpse of shadow casted on the broader view of the history, a background of the scene.
History is never fair to those who are insignificant.
...
The Senate is already struck into chaos as their foes approach, and they can see from the banners they carry and the slogan they advertise, that these men will not spare their lives, actually they cannot even spare themselves, for they are the ones who know the clearest on what they have done.
"We should ask the Ottomans for reinforcements!"
"We ought to ask the Slavs, yes, the Slavs! We should send out a letter to Stephen Tomašević, we support his claims on the Kingships of Serbia!"
"We should request aid from the Patriarch of the West, saying that we shall join the Church of the Catholics!"
"Shut it you evil Heretic! How dare you claim such views of a Heresy in the most sacred court, the centre of Christianity!"
"What better way do you have then! You coward little twat!"
"I will tear that mouth of yours if you don’t shut it yourself!"
...
The Senate House is as rowdy as always, with roars accompanied with saliva going all over the place of antiquate, with occasionally things getting flung across the room. This entire room is a perfect example that can be used to describe how inefficient the entire parliamentary system of Constantinople can be when it comes to decision making, obviously there is a reason why emperors in the past abolished it turning Imperium Romanum into an autocratic state, with only Constantine XI reviving it to share his powers with the nobles to gain their support.
Among the chaotic senators seats the treasurer chancellor, Sakellarios Issac Phrangopoulos, and the head of the House of Laskaris, a renowned senator and advisor to the state Andronikos Laskaris seats by the side of the Parliamentary house, looking over the scene with a pair of cold eyes.
The two of them had nothing to do with the coup de’tat, they despise the actions of the senate, especially the one sitting on top there who killed both royalties and George Sphrantzes, but because of the sheer dominance of Innocentius they dared not speak a word of denial, but that does not mean that they are affiliated with Antonius, especially Andronikos Laskaris, for till now he still sees Antonius as an outsider; someone who does not belong to the Roman Empire.
The army of Antonius is just few days away from the Theodosian Walls, and right now the two of them who have a clear mind knows that no possible reinforcements will come. The city is to its own fate facing the blade of Thessaloniki.
"What do you think?" Issac asked his pal by the side.
"What do I think? Does it even matter now?" Andronikos did not put up the usual gentlemanly behaviour he had. "At least Antonius De’Ricci is a Christitian, I would rather have a new Christinian overlord rather than a Muslim Turk ruling over my head."
"A Christian over our head does not necessarily mean that he will show us with mercy, my friend, remember the crusade?"
"..."
"No matter what." Suddenly Issac lowered his voice and whispered beside the ears of his colleague. "Innocentius must die, to pay the price for what he has done."
"What, you planning to start another civil war when there are enemies outside?"
"Of course, no." Issac stared at the old man seated on top. "But if that Genoese succeeds, I will not hesitate to let out all the things I know about him regarding his guilt."
"If that man legit made it into the walls as a victor, then there will be hundreds of people who will wanna stab on his back in exchange for some perks in the new government, you will have to join the queue." Andronikos taunted, then sunk back to his deep thinking.
People might think that he is shined under the light of wealth and fame as the head of a thousand year old family, but in fact no, for his house, Laskaris, is now dwindled into a pathetic state that might go extinct at any point soon, with only four male direct line members left inclusive of him. Whatever the results is, as the head of the family, it is his responsibility to think about the future of the entire house.
Innocentius has no time nor energy to care about the goofy thoughts of the two men, for he has already found himself in a much deeper trouble now. As the enemies come fast approaching, he has found his support from the nobles and the senators disappearing hour by hour for a simple reason, these men have no confidence on him standing against the forces of Antonius, for as the supreme Officials of the state they themselves know very well what the current state of the Roman army in Constantinople is like ever after the sudden death of Giovanni Giustinianni and the flee of Mauro.
Wait a minute, the army...
Innocentius took a quick look around him, and then felt a sense of chills down his spine.
There are no representatives from the military in this house, unlike last time.
Where can they possibly be?
