Later that afternoon, Primo and Father Leontio were waiting in a hall inside the imperial palace. They managed to get an appointment with Justinian II the very same day. After five consecutive years of being under siege, this was the first summer of normalcy in Constantinople. The Arab conquests had severed many trade routes. Therefore, commerce was rather slow, and consequently so were policy matters for the imperial family. An aide appeared to accommodate Primo and Father Leontio to see Justinian II. They found the Emperor’s son in his private study examining a map he had open on a table.
“Father Leontio and Primo the Venetian! I am glad to see the two of you!” Justinian II greeted them.
“It is our pleasure, and thank you for accepting to receive us under such short notice…” Father Leontio replied.
“My dear Primo… I heard stories about your brother Polo!” Justinian II continued.
The Emperor’s son was looking at Primo with a big grin in his face. Primo was very cautious with his response. ‘Why is he grinning at me?’ Primo thought. ‘He might be very upset about what happened with Ravenna.’ Primo decided that the best thing to do was to politely play dumb.
“Your Highness… What have you heard about my brother Polo?”
“We hear he is in Alexandria! Polo the Venetian! The unstoppable merchant!” Justinian II replied, seeming even more amused.
“You have heard about Polo! Is he safe? He is in Alexandria?”
Primo and Father Leontio were relieved. First, there was no mention of the incident with Ravenna. Second, if Polo went to Alexandria, it meant that the lagoon was safe.
“Sure he is! Why wouldn’t he be safe?” Justinian II continued. “We do not have official diplomacy with Egypt at the moment, but merchants will be merchants no matter what war is taking place, and news travels from port to port… we do have our informants!”
“Well, that is good. I imagine he was selling slaves,” Primo confessed. “I hope that is not an issue with Constantinople, the fact that he was trading in an Arab port…”
“It’s not an issue with me… It might be with my father, but who cares. He was selling Nordic slaves, so no harm to us… but that’s quite something! The only merchants we dealt with from the Adriatic were from Ravenna…”
Justinian II was now looking at Primo straight in the eye. He still had a smirk in his expression, but now he appeared to show more respect. Evidently, Polo’s trip to Alexandria gave him legitimacy more than anything else. The Venetians were noticeably becoming the new commercial power of the Adriatic. Commercial action, not diplomatic delegations, was what earned esteem. Therefore, Primo decided to get right to the point.
“Your Highness, what are you thinking about? Is there something we can do to be of service to you?”
“Actually, there is! I imagine that you must be just as fearless of a merchant as your brother. After all, venturing without soldiers into an enemy’s port! You Venetians must be quite adventurous!”
“Indeed we are, Your Highness. We love trading, and we have come a long way…”
“Very well! Because, you know, I might have a mission for you!” Justinian II revealed.
“A mission? You mean outside of Constantinople?”
“Yes… Outside of Constantinople, of course…”
Primo could not believe it. He asked for an appointment in order to plead to leave the city, and the Emperor’s son was actually offering him that chance.
“That is great! I am most happy to accept!”
Justinian II started laughing.
“Ha, ha, ha, Primo, Primo, Primo! Are you accepting a mission without knowing where I am sending you?”
“Your Highness, Primo is just excited to finally be able to be of service, no matter what the expedition is!” Father Leontio intervened.
Primo did not know if he should have regretted that impulsive decision. After all, once out in the Mediterranean anything could have happened, and he was confident that once gone from Constantinople he could soon return home and embrace his wife and children.
“Very well, then. You see, the Arabs have caused a major, major problem…” Justinian II continued.
“Indeed they have!” Father Leontio emphasized. “Important trading ports such as Alexandria have fallen into the hands of the Arabs!”
“Yes, that’s a problem too, but not the biggest problem. Do you know who our major trading partner is?” Justinian II asked.
Father Leontio’s eyes widened, as he began to understand. He then exclaimed:
“Persia!”
“Persia?” Primo said sounding very puzzled. “I thought they were the eternal rivals, even before the Arabs!”
“Of course they are our rivals, but that did not prevent us from trading with them!” Justinian II replied.
“You see, Primo, trade with Persia is fundamental to Byzantium because it is the gateway to the Far East,” Father Leontio explained. “The Silk Road goes through Persia. There is no way around it!”
“Exactly, there is no way around it…” Justinian II continued. “But now we lost Syria, which was our only route to Persia!”
“Now it’s all under the Arabs…” Father Leontio added, desolated. “Our trade with Persia and with the Far East has been severed!”
“Yes, but this is no reason to panic,” Justinian II replied. “All we have to do is to go around this obstacle…”
“But how?” Primo asked.
Justinian II placed his hand behind Primo’s shoulder and walked him toward the table where he had the large map open. It was the very first time Primo saw a map, and the concept of a geographic representation of the known world was so foreign to him that he did not understand what he was looking at.
“This way!” Justinian II said pointing at a location on the map. “We can just as easily get to Persia by sailing the Euxine Sea, along the northern coast of Anatolia, until we reach the port of Trebizond!”
“Trebizond! It used to be an important port in antiquity…” Father Leontio pondered. “It was completely destroyed by the Goths a few centuries ago, and it has never quite fully recovered…”
“I believe that we can have an alternative route to the Silk Road going through the port of Trebizond!” Justinian II remarked.
“But do we really need silk from the Far East? I thought Byzantium had discovered the secret and that it has its own production… I have seen local silk in the market!”
“Yes, and if you have seen silk, you know that ours is no match with the quality of silk we import. Besides, that’s not the point. Silk is not the only commodity we trade. We must reopen the secure trade channels with Persia and the Far East, while avoiding the Arabs!”
“So, what do you need from Primo and me?” Father Leontio asked.
“To travel to Trebizond, of course!” Justinian II replied.
“We are honored, of course! But may I ask…” Father Leontio was a bit hesitant. “Doesn’t Emperor Constantinos IV have official merchants and diplomats for these kinds of expeditions?”
“My father is not thinking ahead! He is all about the Mediterranean!” Justinian II abruptly replied, bothered by the thought of his father’s authority overriding his ambitions. “My father is just thinking of how to get Syria back! But that’s lost! The Arabs are too strong, let’s face it. But as long as we have our trade with Persia and beyond, we are going to be just fine.”
“So I guess this is an unofficial expedition?” Primo asked, excited about the potential gains.
“You can say so… I do have my father’s approval, but he just does not believe in my vision. He does not see this alternative trade route as what will save the Empire’s fate.”
“I completely agree with your wise commercial strategy. I am happy to accept!” Primo enthusiastically embraced the plan of the young but ambitious Justinian II.
“Very well! I a
lready have the ship ready. Remember, Trebizond is a peculiar port… From what I hear, it is truly the intersection of cultures: Greek, Persian, Armenian, Asian… you name it! And of course, of religions… Once in Trebizond you must find a trade connection to Persia. We need to revive the Silk Road and reopen the antique Trebizond route.”
As the aide was escorting them out, Father Leontio whispered to Primo:
“Primo! Why did you accept?”
“Why not? I don’t understand. We get out of Constantinople. That was our plan, right?”
“Yes, but that’s the opposite direction!” Father Leontio explained.
“Oh, don’t worry, once we are out, we will find our way to the Adriatic…”
“Primo, you do not understand! The Euxine Sea is landlocked! The only way in and out is through the Bosporus channel, right here in Constantinople!”
“I must tell you, I am actually intrigued about this Trebizond town, anyhow,” Primo confessed. “I believe this Silk Road access might be the next important step for us Venetians…”
Chapter 29
THE EVANGELIST AND PAPHLAGONIA
Polo, Justo and Simeon were walking through the streets of Alexandria. This ancient port was the intersection of Mediterranean trade and African trade along the River Nile. It had still a strong Egyptian substratum, but also a prevalent Christian society based on centuries of Byzantine control. Now it was adjusting to the new Arab era that was just beginning, but that was already making Egypt one of its main centers.
“So, Polo, tell me…” Simeon asked. “I am curious to learn about the situation in the North Adriatic…”
“Well… it’s a bit of a mess, as usual…” Polo explained. “Essentially the Longobards are split between Catholics to the West, and Arians to the East.”
“Oh, Arians! Followers of Arius! You know, he was a priest from Alexandria!”
“I did not know that, I just thought it was a Germanic heresy…”
“No! You need to study more! Arius was a Berber priest who lived here in Alexandria three centuries ago. His word spread all across Europe, and I guess it is still going strong among Longobards…”
“I guess… I just saw it as an excuse to form political factions. I don’t quite see the difference.”
“Let me take you to the Church of Baukalis where his relics rest. I am sure you can find something of value there to bring back to some devoted Longobard nobleman…”
“What is Baukalis?” Justo asked.
“It’s a neighborhood here in Alexandria… By the way, Polo, which Longobard faction are you rooting for?”
“Neither, but I guess the Longobards that surround our lagoon are all Arians, so we need them to trade further north.”
“Isn’t Baukalis where Markos the Evangelist was martyred?” Justo asked.
“Oh! We have a cultured person with us! You certainly know a lot more than Polo!” Simeon replied.
Simeon looked at Justo smiling. He then continued and fed Justo’s curiosity.
“Would you like to go visit the relics of Saint Markos the Evangelist?”
“I most certainly would!” Justo enthusiastically replied.
“Very well, because that’s exactly where we are walking toward. He is buried underneath the altar in the Church of Baukalis, the oldest Coptic Christian church in Alexandria.”
“What exactly happened to Markos the Evangelist?” Polo asked.
“Well, he was the one who brought the word of Christ here in Alexandria, and the first Christians built the Church of Baukalis during that time. One day, Saint Markos was attacked by a crowd of pagans… it was during Easter Sunday, that’s what tradition claims. He was killed, but his followers recovered his body and buried him underneath the altar.”
“I cannot believe we get the chance to visit the tomb of one of the four Evangelists!” Justo exulted. “Can you believe it, Polo?”
“What about in your home town, Polo, do you have any particular churches?” Simeon asked.
“Nothing as majestic as here. My people are devoted Christians, but we have only relocated in the safety of the lagoon recently, and although we have priests, our churches are just as modest as our dwellings…”
“In fact, we do not even have yet a church for Rivo Alto or Olivolo!” Justo added.
“I promise you, Justo. When we get back, with all the gold we gained in this trip, we will build a great church right in the middle of Olivolo!”
“And who shall you dedicate this church to?” Simeon asked.
“Probably to Saint Petrus, I guess… I would let the Patriarch make those decisions. I will just take care of the carpentry and pay for it, of course.”
Simeon, Polo and Justo arrived at the Church of Baukalis. They paid an offering and then Justo and Polo walked to the front and kneeled down in front of the altar. Polo heard Justo praying, and while he was staring at the altar with the relics inside, he whispered to Justo:
“Justo! Do you think they will get offended if I ask them for how much they would be willing to sell the relics of Saint Markos?”
“Polo! You are incorrigible! Don’t you dare offend them by asking such a question!”
“I figured, if we bring back the relics of an Evangelist to our lagoon, that would give us immeasurable status!”
“Polo! These people are the descendants of the first Christians! Saint Markos himself built this church! You cannot buy the relics of their very own patriarch! It is sacrilege to even think about it! Are you crazy?”
“Fine! Don’t get too upset up about it! I was just wondering… after all, everything has a price…”
Eventually Polo and Justo walked out and met Simeon who was waiting for them while talking to a local priest. They walked back toward port, but this time passing through the market.
“Now that you have done your duty with a religious pilgrimage, it is time for you to see what the market has to offer!” Simeon stated.
“I cannot wait!” Polo replied.
“You see, Polo, I really care about cultivating our trade relations…”
“So do I!”
“There aren’t many merchants venturing from the very north of the Adriatic all the way to Alexandria. In fact, there haven’t been any since the Arabs took over from the Byzantines. A long time ago we had merchants from Ravenna making the trip.”
“Yes, but now Ravenna is in decline! We are the new force, trade wise, of course…”
“I don’t doubt it! In fact, it’s the whole Byzantine Empire that is in decline, and if you ask me, soon I don’t think Byzantium will have any presence in Italy or in the Adriatic.”
“You think? Really?” Polo asked.
“I know so,” Simeon replied. “The Arabs are conquering all the south of the Mediterranean, from Egypt to Mauretania. They already have all of the eastern Mediterranean. I think Constantinople will survive, but only in the Aegean Sea.”
“So who is going to control the Adriatic?” Polo was very curious.
“That is exactly my point!” Simeon replied. “The Pope? I don’t think so, the Longobards? Do they even know how to sail? Ravenna? It will perish with Byzantium’s retreat!”
“So who is going to control the Adriatic if Byzantium retreats?” Polo insisted.
“You tell me, Polo, you tell me…”
Polo was actually thinking about it. All he cared about was trade, and he felt compelled to become Duke, almost forced to, as he had no military ambitions. He did have to fill a vacuum created by a retreating Byzantium and the lack of capacity of Longobards to become a maritime power. Now the vacuum of power would be even bigger. Not just the lagoon, but the whole Adriatic.
“That’s why I care about keeping strong commercial ties,” Simeon continued. “The two of us are connecting two distant worlds! From your end, we can reach the northern lands, beyond the Franks
and all the way to the Norsemen. From my end, we can reach the depths of Africa, even beyond where the Romans initially explored…”
They had reached the market and Polo could see with his own eyes what Simeon was talking about. There was ivory, there was gold, there were precious gems, and so much more that he did not even know what half the merchandise was.
The Venetians remained in Alexandria for several additional days. They loaded up the ships with exotic merchandise and they still had a vast amount of gold solidi left. They enjoyed what the city had to offer, but as summer was beginning, they decided to return to cooler latitudes.
They sailed up and stopped first in Kerkyra and then in Istria, where they loaded up as usual with farm produce. They finally returned to their homeland, and the first stop was, of course, Heraclia. Polo had been away from Heraclia for too long. He spent most of the winter in Rivo Alto because the town had to be rebuilt. He then had waited for Adalulf to bring the slaves, so he was there throughout the beginning of spring, and then he had to stay in Rivo Alto waiting for Ravenna to attack. Once he decided to venture south, he went directly without stopping in Heraclia. Therefore, he had been missing for quite some time, and he was eager to hug his wife Aurelia again and his two children, Clelia and Manlio.
As the three ships were nearing Heraclia’s port, from far in the distance, all the way from Metamauco Island a few fishermen on boats were observing the merchant ships arriving. It was Mauro and his men. Mauro rushed back to his village. He jumped out of his sailboat without mooring it and ran inside one of the huts.
Inside the hut he found seven soldiers from Ravenna who had been hidden in Metamauco by Ioannicio. They had been waiting there for the right moment for months. Finally, for Mauro the time for his much awaited revenge had come, and he said to the soldiers:
“The time has come. Polo has returned to Heraclia. It is time to teach him a lesson once and for all!”
Primo and Father Leontio were sailing east toward Trebizond. They had been traveling in the Euxine Sea for a couple of days, and they were about half way to their destination. The Byzantine ship they were aboard carried wine, olive oil and other goods that would help establish a cordial trading relationship. They had to bridge the gap between the port of Trebizond and Persia, and that meant dealing with mountain passes and the local lords that controlled them. Quality olive oil and wine were sure to help them cozy up to new potential trade partners.
Venetians Page 37
