Uranos-Makedon (1): The Fall of Trapezunta
I had commanded Chaur to seize Trapezunta without a single civilian casualty. "As Your Majesty commanded, we captured Trapezunta without harming any civilians."
Chaur knelt before me, offering the banner of Trapezunta. I rose from my throne and commended him for carrying out the order with excellence.
"To Chaur, who has fulfilled his command so splendidly, I grant the territory of Epena."
Epena was a domain in Lazica, nestled between the lands of Angelos and Ioannis—a fertile patch in its own right. Granting territories to those who distinguished themselves in battle was a decision Zoe and I had already discussed and settled upon. In that light, awarding Epena to Chaur, who had earned the greatest merit in the siege of Trapezunta, was only natural.
"My deepest thanks, Your Majesty."
Chaur gazed up at me with an expression of profound gratitude. And who could blame him? At last, he had stepped out from the shadow of his foster father and become a truly independent man. In truth, he had already shaken free of Arslan's influence during the war with Georgia. But among nomads, true independence came only with land to rule and soldiers to command. Receiving a fief meant soldiers to match—proving Chaur had been reborn as his own man. His joy was more than justified.
With Chaur's turn concluded, I summoned Arslan next.
"Arslan, you have earned great merit by obeying my command and striking down Serdios."
A small box sat beside Arslan, containing Serdios's severed head.
"What is it you desire?"
Arslan pondered for a moment, then turned and pointed to Andronikos at his side before continuing. "My brothers and I could capture the traitor only thanks to Lord Andronikos's aid."
Arslan knew full well how Andronikos had shifted to a wedge formation, shattering the enemy's main force. And so he made sure not to forget the man's valor, mentioning him now to share in the honors.
"Thus, I wish to receive commendation alongside Lord Andronikos."
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
At Arslan's request, I called for Andronikos. He stepped forward, bowed to me, then turned to thank Arslan beside him.
"My thanks, Lord Arslan."
"No, no. Truth be told, I hoped this battle wouldn't see a young pup like you tripping me up. Instead, I ended up in your debt—so that head of Serdios might as well have been struck by your blade."
"Not at all. Without you and your valiant Turkic cavalry, I could never have claimed it."
A warm, fraternal air filled the hall. I needed to honor such noble rivalry.
"Both Arslan and Lord Andronikos shall receive their due rewards."
The two men looked stunned. Before they could speak, I announced the gifts.
Piles of treasure loomed like mountains. For nomads, nothing mattered more than wealth. Rather than lofty titles, I selected the most precious spoils plundered from Trapezunta and bestowed them upon Arslan.
"To Lord Arslan, riches."
At my gesture, Halvar approached, bearing an ornate insignia emblazoned with the imperial emblem—the first token meant for the senators of the forthcoming council's upper house.
"To Lord Andronikos, honor."
Gifts tailored to their natures. Fortunately, both men approved of what Zoe and I had prepared; they beamed with delight as they expressed their thanks.
"We are grateful for Your Majesty's grace."
"We shall repay it with even greater deeds ahead."
"My thanks."
The commendations continued. To Angelos and Ioannis, Halvar, Bachana, and Alton—each who shone in the war received positions and riches befitting their feats. Of course, I didn't neglect the bureaucrats who excelled beyond the battlefield.
My vassals had tasted the sweet fruits of conquering Trapezunta. Their domains would expand, their armies grow, and their tax revenues swell accordingly. To me, it meant the goal of reclaiming Constantinople drew ever nearer. To those ministers once stifled by entrenched nobles and vested interests, it heralded new opportunities.
Yet one crucial step remained to secure it all.
The coronation. We needed to formally proclaim my marriage to Zoe and declare myself Emperor of the 98th Roman Empire.
The nobles circling Constantine VIII would surely rebel. But Rome's long history had seen many emperors at once—no issue there. With Zoe as my consort, I would claim the purple blood myself. In legitimacy, I would rival Constantine VIII, leaving few who could challenge my authority.
The emperor had foreseen this. On the day the nobles stormed his villa, he chose to let himself be seized so that Zoe, Theodora, and I could escape. It tied to his failing health as well. Had Constantine VIII been hale, he might have fled with us. But sensing his days were numbered, he entrusted vengeance to Zoe and me.
Now it was time to button that first stitch of retribution.
As if reading my thoughts, Ioannis stepped forward. As head of the Komnenos-Laika house, he proclaimed in a resounding voice before all.
"Great Rogerius Uranos Augoustos! The time has come for the world to recognize you as Rome's rightful heir."
Ioannis, second son of the Komnenoi, was said to have mastered oratory. If the records held true, his voice carried a power to sway hearts.
"Fail to do so, and the traitors will question Your Majesty's authority. The chaos that follows will bring Rome to self-destruction."
He clenched and released his fist, his whole body fueling the speech. The courtiers nodded as one, captivated by his eloquence.
"Protector of the Faith, faithful servant of God! Wicked nobles threaten Emperor Constantine VIII, seizing not the greater good but their own gains."
Ioannis turned to the assembly. "In the turmoil, the people groan in agony, heretics prowl the borders exploiting our weaknesses. Until internal strife ends, this suffering persists."
He faced me again, dropping to one knee and crying out. "Your Majesties Rogerius and Zoe must accept the imperial crown and reveal Rome's true leader!"
As Ioannis's brief oration ended, the bureaucrats erupted in applause. Zoe, watching from behind, approached my side with resolute expression and gently took my hand. With her consent, I raised our joined hands high.
"Following Lord Ioannis's counsel, Zoe Porphyrogenita and I shall accept the coronation."
"Long live Emperor!"
"Long live Empress Zoe!"
"Long live Emperor Rogerius!"
Zoe and I, soon to be crowned Roman emperors. The courtiers chanted our names in unison.
"Heard the news?"
Rumors flew fastest among merchants, especially the war profiteers, who gathered in clusters to swap intelligence.
"What news? You mean the civil war? If it's about the southern dukes splintering off, only for the Komnenos house to dominate the south—I've heard that already."
The southern lands, held by nobles. With capital aristocrats monopolizing power around Constantine VIII, the provincial dukes rebelled. But the capital's might crushed their unrest. Unable to endure, the southern dukes broke away as petty warlords, fracturing the region into chaos. Asakios, eldest of the Komnenoi, exploited the rift masterfully.
"Know the details?"
The seasoned merchant's query drew an abashed shake of the head. "Not the full story. Just that Lord Asakios, hero of the Georgian war, crushed them with brilliant tactics."
"Half right, half wrong. Forgot how the Komnenos house split after Georgia?"
"Heard the second son, Lord Ioannis, went with that rebel Rogerius."
The veteran merchant recoiled in shock, waving his hands frantically to silence the man. "Don't say that anywhere else. You could lose your head."
"But the whole world calls Lord Rogerius a trai—"
The elder clamped a hand over the speaker's mouth. "I'll explain later. First, finish with Asakios."
The merchant nodded grudgingly, face sour. "You'd better explain properly, or I'll be furious."
"Calm down. Anyway, how did Asakios, with no base in the south, conquer it wholesale? Ever hear of Kekapmenos Katakalon, the mercenary active down there?"
"Of course. Top sellsword, called the nobles' hunting dog. But why bring up a mere mercenary without lands?"
"That Kekapmenos allied with Lord Asakios, ambushed the southern dukes, and seized their fiefs in one stroke. Some whispers say Kekapmenos was nobility himself, granted those lands by his house."
"Does that even make sense? Even with the south divided..."
The merchant trailed off. Absurd, yet Georgia's hero Asakios made it plausible. Add the elite mercenaries under the famed "hunting dog" Kekapmenos, and taking small holdings seemed feasible. In the end, Asakios unified the entire south. Results proved the impossible.
"What more to argue? Komnenoi hold the south now. But explain why you shut me up about Rogerius."
Eager for the tale, he pressed. The veteran eyed him steadily, urging calm.
"Lord Rogerius is marrying Lady Zoe. And holding the coronation right after!"
A match for the ages. The merchant gaped, jaw slack in unguarded astonishment.