The Eternal Empire

by Geoff Fabron

  Saxon Air Force - Capabilities

  The Saxons have only recently built up a military air capability and appear to have organised their air force along Roman lines. Aircraft are classed as either fighter/reconnaissance or light bomber. The Saxons have not developed any long range heavy bombers equivalent to our 'Victor' or 'Felix' aircraft.

  According to our sources the Saxons appear to have established twenty fighter and fifteen light bomber cohorts of 25 aircraft each. Their main fighter is the Model V, a highly manoeuvrable single wing aircraft with four machine guns, similar to our 'Lance'. Their light bomber is the Model VII, a twin engine aircraft with two heavy machine guns and able to carry up to 1000 pounds in air shells. This aircraft is similar in design to our 'Rhinus' bomber, and from observations made by our agents its primary function is that of attacking ground targets.

  Cornelius put down the report and made a few notes. He then went through some other files and charts extracting data and transferring dates and figures to his note pad. There was more to the Saxon military than its order of battle and something about what he had read was nagging at him, but he could not put his finger on it. However the mark of a good analyst is his tenacity and his commanding officer in Asia Minor was correct, Cornelius Petronius was an excellent analyst. Once he started to see a pattern in the data, no matter how vague it was, Cornelius would stay with it until he had an answer that made sense.

  For the next three days Cornelius followed one line of thought after another, cross checking information from one file to another, rejecting hypotheses that did not fit the facts.

  14th January 1920

  Constantinople

  Marcus pushed his way along the row of chairs to a spare seat beside Magnus. The meeting room in a hotel next to the assembly and senate buildings was filled with members of the Modernist party. John Phocas and other senior party officials were on a raised platform in the front. It had been a week since his arrival in the capital and most nights had been a succession of 'intellectual discussions' at various taverns with Magnus and other party members. Initially Marcus had been amazed by Magnus, who could happily drink himself into oblivion each night yet show no signs of a hangover the next morning. Now he was quite used to it, and the broad smile and hearty welcome he got no longer surprised Marcus, although it did irritate him since his head was still throbbing.

  "Just in time," said Magnus, a little too loudly for Marcus, "John arrived a couple of minutes ago and judging from the general expressions, they are happy about something."

  "I'm sure we are about to find out what they have been up to," said Marcus as he settled himself into a chair.

  John Phocas stood up and faced his audience. He was a small man, in his early fifties with dark hair greying at the edges. He looked like a shopkeeper in a small town, and if you passed him in the street you would be unlikely to give him a second glance. But a life time in politics had taught him how to project himself, and when he wanted to, he could dominate a crowd by the way he used his voice and moved his body. Now he just waited for the last person to sit down and for the talking to subside. When he had everyone's attention he began.

  "Good morning gentlemen, and to those of you who have just returned to the capital, welcome back. While most of you have been feasting and making nuisances of yourselves amongst the voters at home," there were scattered laughs at this, just as Phocas knew there would be, "your leadership has been busy putting together a legislative programme that will lay the foundations for a modern Empire!"

  There was a noticeable stirring amongst the audience at this bold statement. They knew that their leader was a good showman but he was not generally prone to overstatement.

  "The Empire is in a financial mess, and is desperate to get out of it! The Emperor will be willing to accept changes in order to balance the treasury." He paused to scan the faces before him. He had their full attention.

  "Other parties in the assembly also realise this, which presents both opportunities and potential dangers. The danger as always comes from the reactionaries who would turn time back on even the few progressive changes made in the last thirty years, but it is on the opportunities that I wish to concentrate this morning."

  All present were aware of the unofficial grouping of the parties in the assembly. The 'radical group' consisted of the Republican and Radical parties, who were looking to make dramatic changes to the structure of the Empire in one form or another. They controlled 110 of the 400 seats in the assembly, but since they were generally violently opposed to each other on economic and social issues, they rarely co-operated. The 'progressive group' included the Modernists with 83 seats and the Federalists with 53. They often worked and voted together, but the Federalists were split into provincial groupings with a weak party leadership. It was difficult to depend on them. The 'reactionaries' which Phocas had mentioned referred mainly to the Senatorial and Traditionalist parties. The 40 members of the Senatorial party rarely stirred from their comfortable chairs in the assembly except to vote against just about anything, whilst the 53 Traditionalists were openly aggressive, calling for military action against those it regarded as enemies of the Empire, both inside and out. The Equestrian party was often grouped with the reactionaries, but this was mainly due to the image it had of being the party of the rich industrialists. Named after the old knights of Republican Rome, the 61 Equestrian members in the assembly were intrinsically conservative but fundamentally pragmatic.

  John Phocas picked up a sheet of paper from the desk behind him and waved it in front of him.

  "Last night, on behalf of the party, I put my name to an alliance with the Radical, Federalist and Equestrian parties to put through a series of laws that will transform the economic life of the Empire!"

  There were exclamations of disbelief. Radicals and Equestrians working together! It seemed impossible to comprehend. Phocas let the noise die down before continuing.

  "The parties have come together in order to support a series of laws which we all agree will be of benefit to the Empire and its people." The leader of the Modernist party began to read the salient points of the agreement.

  "An Education of the People Law will provide for universal schooling for all children. All Church schools will be incorporated and a land tax will be imposed to pay for it."

  That will annoy the Senatorials, thought Marcus. Free education for all had been an objective of the Modernists for some time and had been opposed by the reactionaries as an unnecessary expense.

  Phocas continued to read. "A Pension Law will ensure that all citizens of the Empire will be provided for when they are too old to work. This will be financed by a tax on luxury goods and on all salaries including those of the church, government and military."

  Magnus leaned over to Marcus and whispered in his ear, "That's one for the radicals. The reactionaries will be frothing at the mouth when they hear about that."

  "The legal system will be reformed." Phocas raised his voice slightly to allow himself to be heard above the noise in the room. "There will be a central legal system for all. Church and military personnel will no longer be outside the jurisdiction of the civil courts."

  There was some scattered applause at that. Phocas waited for it to die down before continuing.

  "An Air Transport Law will allow private companies to own and operate aircraft for commercial purposes subject to military approval." The applause from the floor began again.

  "So that's why the Equestrians bought into this alliance," said Magnus. Marcus nodded in agreement. Air transport was regarded as the next boom industry and the reluctance to relax the states monopoly had been deeply resented by industrialists.

  "A law will be passed," said Phocas, "to allow each province to engage in any kind of economic activity that it wishes. Bureaucrats in the capital will no longer dictate where factories will be built or what they can produce, which ports may build ships and what crops each farmer may grow."

  By now everyone in the room was on their fee
t applauding, Marcus had to shout to Magnus to make himself heard. "That'll please the Federalists, regardless of faction."

  John Phocas signalled for everybody to sit down, he had more. He waited until he had complete silence.

  "As you will realise, these laws will bring about many of the changes which the Modernist party have been advocating for years. However, to get the Emperor to accept them and to approve their adoption it will be necessary to pass an austerity law to raise additional taxes."

  There were unhappy mutterings at his. John Phocas ignored them and carried on.

  "The Austerity Law will allow for an increase in basic taxation by 5%, import duties by 15%, and rail transport charges by 10%. The price of controlled foods will go up by between 5% and 15%, and the guaranteed price paid by the state for all minerals will be reduced by 5%."

  A number of members were on their feet before Phocas had finished. They were all shouting at once and declaiming the proposed austerity law as being too severe and would make the recession worse. However, Marcus noticed that the majority of those present were still seated and deep in thought. If the financial situation really was that bad, the Emperor would be hard pressed to reject these new laws. Besides, getting four of the seven parties in the assembly to support this package of laws was unprecedented, and everyone present had quickly done the voting arithmetic. The Modernist, Radicals, Federalists and Equestrians controlled 264 seats in a 400 seat assembly.

  15th January 1920

  Minden, Saxony

  Cornelius decided to wear his second best toga (he only had two). The wine stain caused by Fulvia's poke in his ribs at the party for Titus had not come out completely and the ambassador had emphasised the importance of making a good impression at the reception tonight.

  Taronites and a score of other high ranking officials from the Embassy had been invited to the country residence of Count Maleric, who was heading the Saxon delegation to the trade negotiations. Cornelius had been included in the invitation and since he was Taronites principle trade official in Saxony, he would be travelling in the ambassadors official motor carriage, a new luxury model from Northern Italia.

  The journey from Minden to the Count’s estate took about twenty minutes, and the ambassador used this time to brief Cornelius.

  "Frederick Maleric comes across as a friendly and likeable fellow, which he is," said Taronites, "but he is also intelligent, shrewd, and will give nothing away in negotiations."

  "How does he view the Empire?" asked Cornelius.

  "He's no Roman hater, if that is what you mean. Which is surprising if you had known his father, the old Count. Now he was a man who despised the Empire with a passion, wouldn't talk to a Roman and certainly wouldn't have one in the house."

  The ambassador allowed himself a little smile. "That old bastard must be turning in his grave at the thought of this reception!"

  The car arrived at the entrance to the estate, a huge gate house with a couple of armed guards. They respectfully inspected the ambassadors’ invitation and directed the motor carriage along a well tended dirt road. Cornelius noted other armed men walking along the road.

  "Does the Count normally have an army billeted on his estate?" asked Cornelius.

  "They'll be men from the local regiment," the ambassador answered, "the youngest perform security duties for the nobles as part of their training. Count Maleric is honourary colonel of the local regiment."

  The motor carriage pulled up to the front entrance where another guard opened the door for them to get out. They went inside and were met by a servant who guided them through to the main reception room.

  The room was large and well lit. A quartet played quietly in one corner while the sixty or so guests stood around in small groups talking. As Taronites and Cornelius entered, a middle-aged man detached himself from one of the groups and strode purposefully towards them.

  "Isaac, good to see you, welcome to my home." The man had a large smile, only slightly hidden by a well trimmed beard, and friendly silver grey eyes. He shook the ambassadors’ hand vigorously.

  "It's good to see you again Frederick," said Taronites, "please let me introduce you to Cornelius Petronius, my principle trade assistant. Cornelius, this is Count Frederick Maleric, our host for tonight."

  Cornelius shook hands and said formally, "I am honoured to meet you Count Maleric."

  "Please call me Frederick", the count replied jovially, "There'll be plenty of formal occasions once the negotiations start."

  They moved into the room, helping themselves to a glass of wine from a table at the entrance. Frederick left them to greet another arrival and they moved around the various groups to allow the ambassador to introduce Cornelius to the people he would be negotiating with.

  "The Saxons seem pretty amiable," said Cornelius as they left one group.

  "Oh yes, they are all great with a glass of wine or beer in their hands." The ambassador stopped and turned to Cornelius, his face cold and hard. "But never forget that behind those smiles, many of them hate the Empire with a passion. It's a hatred that has been ingrained for two millennium."

  The ambassadors’ smile returned as he saw the Count approaching with a young woman at his side. "Gentlemen, you haven't met my sister. Katherine this is Isaac Taronites, the Roman ambassador and his assistant Cornelius Petronius."

  Katherine Maleric appeared to be in her late twenties, shorter than her brother with fair hair and the same silver grey eyes. It was the eyes that caught Cornelius's attention. They seemed to be larger than the Counts, but they also sparkled with greeting. She was attractive though not stunningly beautiful like Fulvia and if it were not for those eyes and her smile she would probably be quite plain. Her smile, like her eyes drew people’s attention. Cornelius suddenly realised that he was staring and quickly said the first thing that came into his head.

  "What do you do Miss Maleric?"

  At this forthright question Katherine's smile took on a slightly wicked twist.

  "I study dead Romans," she said deliberately, looking directly at Cornelius, who was turning slightly red as he realised that he had been rather rude.

  The Count let out a huge laugh.

  "Katherine is studying Roman History at the university," he said as he brought his laughter under control, "the lives of famous Roman Emperors” is the subject of her current paper.

  The bright smile returned to Katherine's face.

  "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you", she said.

  "It's all right," replied Cornelius, "it was rather rude of me to ask."

  "Indeed it was," the ambassador broke in with mock severity, "you shall have to make it up to this young lady. What do you think Frederick?"

  The Count joined Taronites in teasing Cornelius.

  "Indeed he must, I can't have my sister treated like this," he added, "it could cause an international incident!"

  "Absolutely!" said the ambassador, "in penance, Cornelius will be available to answer all Katherine's questions on Imperial History."

  "That's really not necessary," said Katherine.

  Cornelius had been standing speechless and now had a definite flush to his face. "I really don't mind," he managed to get out.

  "There you are!" said the ambassador, "Cornelius has also studied Roman history and he has an excellent analytical mind." He turned to the Count, "that's why I chose him for the job here."

  "Excellent!" said the Count. "Katherine you can start by taking Cornelius to the museum at the castle on Saturday. It contains the biggest collection of Roman military artefacts in Saxony."

  They looked at each other blankly for a brief moment and then Katherine said, "meet me outside the main gate of the castle at ten o'clock!" She then turned and moved off to talk to another group.

  The ambassador and the Count were beaming at Cornelius, obviously happy with the embarrassment that they had caused him. Yet for some reason Cornelius was not all that distressed and as the evening progressed he found himself looking forward t
o Saturday.

  The next day at the office, Cornelius kept thinking about his meeting with Katherine. He was not happy with the way he had reacted when he had first met her and was resolved to make a better impression on Saturday. To this end he decided to read the earlier charters of 'Rome and Germania – A Modern History' that he had skipped on the train. That evening after dinner he sat down in the armchair in his room beside the fire with a large mug of coffee and started to read.

  He skimmed over the first few chapters which covered the period of the Roman Republic and started reading in earnest with the attempt to colonise Germania between the Rhine and Albis rivers. The disaster of Teutoburgerwald in 9 AD and its consequences was covered in some depth. The slaughter of Varus and his three legions signalled the end of any attempt by Rome to include Germania within the borders of the Empire. The next four centuries saw regular Germanic incursions and punitive raids by Rome until the great invasions of the early fifth century and the collapse of the Western half of the Empire. Germanic tribes established their own Kingdoms throughout the West, Ostro-Goths in Italia, Franks in Gauls, Visi-Goths in Hispania and Vandals in Africa.

  For the next hundred years the German tribes had acted as an army of occupation, living off the land they had conquered but not really mixing with the Roman population. Then in 533 AD, the Eastern Empire launched it re-conquest of the West.

  First the Vandal Kingdom fell to the armies of the Emperor Justinian, followed by the Ostro-Gothic Kingdom of Italy. Hispania and Gaul were recovered more slowly but in 585 AD, the soldiers of Rome stood on the banks the Rhine once more. By 600 AD Britannia had been recovered for the Empire, and the frontiers of Rome were as they had been two centuries before. It did not last for long. Forty years later the armies of the Prophet Mohammed swept up out of the Arabian peninsula and wrestled Syria and Palestine permanently and Egypt temporarily from the Empire.

  Along the Rhine, the relationship between Rome and the countries that eventually emerged from the tribes of Germania settled into a series of vicious wars separated by periods of uneasy peace. It was only during the wars against the Turks in central Europe in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries that Roman and German armies had fought together against the Ottomans in defence of Christendom. However, even this alliance did not significantly soften Germanic resentment towards the Empire. Some German historians had suggested that Constantinople had initially encouraged Ottoman attacks on the Christian States East of the Rhine and had only joined in against the Turks when they had extended their jihad to include Imperial lands south of the Danube.