Making Rome Great Again or how I was born as Constantine IX, Emperor of the Romans ch 44 (Historical Fiction SI)

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Constantine dropped the letter on his table. 

The Emperor was ordering him to return to Constantinople for three things; a Triumph to commemorate the re-conquests, to intern Otto as a permanent guest in the City, and help plan the direction the West was going to go in. 

He had thought that he had run out of things to be awed by but that was clearly not the case. He could distinctively remember the last time a Triumph was held in Constantinople and that was during Belisarius's conquest of Africa. A Triumph! Cry your damn heart out, Cicero, for someone was getting a Triumph, and it was not you!

Constantine had no illusions that Basil was going to be celebrated more than him however. The retaking of Italy was significant, yes. The ancient homeland was under Rome's orbit once more. But Basil's was a straight lightning conquest of the Saracens and he had made Jerusalem Christian again. Then there was the fact that he was the Emperor and thus, he would centre attention on him the most. A part of him had thought that his uncle calling for a Triumph was rather out of character for the man hated ceremony. But his achievement, and that of Constantine's, was just far too big of an event to ignore. He already knew that his father was already frothing at the mouth in planning for the event. 

​If there was anything that could make Constantine VIII lock the fuck in, it was merriment and a Triumph was the grandest merriment anyone could have. 

There was going to be differences however. 

The classic Roman Triumph, wherein the great ol parade would involve crossing the Pomerium which in itself was an honor, the presentation of captives and treasures, face-painting the Triumphator with red paint, and of course the strangulation of a foreign King was a no go. Constantine had no doubt it was still going to be wonderful. Gone was the entrance into the Pomerium, the sacred gate which had separated chaos and Rome. No, it would be held in the Hippodrome with chariot races thrown in afterwards, banquets in the Great Palace, and debauchery for the hoi polloi. 

Bringing Otto to Constantinople should not have been a surprise but a part of him felt some manner of pity for Otto. One second, he was besieging Rome, and the next, he was going to be shipped off to Thrace; to idly spend the rest of his life in luxury and Greek ladies, the total and utter horror. In olden times, Otto would have become a human sacrifice, and it was a human sacrifice, towards Jupiter Optimus Maximus. At most, if his uncle wanted to be pettily cruel, he would have been forced to kneel like Gelimer but Constantine did not think his uncle would do that nor would he support such an utter humiliation. 

Despite Otto erroneously continuing Charlamagne's larping, he was still a sovereign in his own right and a Christian one besides. If he was a heretic or a rebel, then such a humiliation would be fostered. He was not however. Constantine had to admire the delicious deviousness of it all. Practically speaking, Otto would be finished. Deep in Constantinople where he would be surrounded 24/7 by their agents, the Germans would be leaderless for a long, long time. 

Though that shouldn't really be a problem for Otto, Constantine felt. After all, he had wanted to bring Rome back so badly, he could see it for himself. 

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[SPOILER="Polychronion of the Basileus"][URL unfurl="true" media="youtube:yjiKeOIqbqk, list: PLk1ZTr3-diBVpRZvVF7Al-F9-Ki3-tqOj"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjiKeOIqbqk&list=PLk1ZTr3-diBVpRZvVF7Al-F9-Ki3-tqOj&index=5[/URL][/SPOILER]

THE RETURN OF THE EMPEROR BASIL FROM CAMPAIGN, WHEN HE WAS UTTERLY TRIUMPHANT OVER THE SARACENS. CHRIST-CONQUERING AUTOCRAT OF TYRE, SIDON, LEBANON, SYRIA, NAZARETH, AND JERUSALEM. AND THE DOMETIKOS TON SCHOLON, CONSTANTINE PORYPHROGENNETOS, RIGHTEOUS HEAVEN-BLESSED CAESAR, CONQUEROR OF OHRID, PLOVDIV, VARNA, AND CUSTODIAN OF THE ETERNAL CITY. 

When the Emperor Basil returned from waging war against the Saracens in the Levant, his entry into the imperial City was as follows: 

He had arrived at Hiereia, the Symbasileus along with the emperor's representative, the magistros, the Eparch of the City, and all the senate in the City, came out, leaving the officers of the tagmata to guard the City. The Senate met the emperor at a short distance from his reaching the palace and, falling to the ground, they paid him homage. The Emperor ordered that the Senate should accompany him in until the arrival of the Domestikos ton Scholon from the West with the King of the Germans, Otto, as his prisoner. 

[SPOILER="Basil enters the City"][/SPOILER]

After the Domestikos arrived, he sailed thence and came to the Monastery of St. Mamas, where he prayed with his procession and from there, he prepared for the Holy Wisdom. The Eparch of the City had prepared the City in advance, adorning it like a bridal canopy with various skararnaggia and hangings, silver candelabra, and variegated flowers and roses, from the Golden Gate to the Chalke. The Symbasileus Constantine had ordered for a grand chariot prepared for the Emperor to ride upon. Upon seeing the grand chariot however, the Emperor ordered for an image of the Theotoke to ride it instead, to follow behind on a simple horse. This was the order in which the procession started, with the Theotoke riding ahead, the Emperor and the Symbasileus, with the Domestikos ton Scholon, the King of the Germans, (For he was announced to be a guest of the Emperor), the Poryphrogenneta, the conquering Strategoi, the Eparch of the City, the Senate, and other officials and ministers. Then, the soldiers of the different units took their own prisoners separately and in order, along with booty and weapons, and proceeded triumphally through the City.

On his entering the great Golden Gate, the magistros and the emperor's representative and the Eparch of the City brought a golden crown to him, made of precious stones and valuable pearls, which the Emperor order given to the Domestikos ton Scholon, a sign of his favour for the Caesar. Dometikos bowed his head, and in they marched up the Mese. 

[SPOILER="Marching the Mese"][/SPOILER]

The Emperor wore a gold-embroidered breastplate, with a belted sword, and a tiara placed upon his head. He was mounted upon a white horse bearing a bejewelled caparison; and in his right hand he took a sceptre. The Symbasileus wore a gold klibanion with vambraces and greaves, also of gold; and on his head a helmet with a gold circlet. He wore a belted sword, and was mounted likewise on a white horse with bejewelled caparison. He had in addition a gilded lance in his hand. 

Immediately following this the demes met him, in formal order as in a festive procession, proclaiming hymns of victory. And so, passing by those who stood there, he arrived by way of the Sigma and the road to St. Mokios at the Milion, where the senate dismounted from their horses, and processed on foot before the emperor as far as the Holy Well of the Church of the Holy Wisdom; although those who entered the City from outside, with the emperor, came in on horses, wearing gilded klibania and carrying swords and lances, each unit according to its proper position: in front of the emperor the praipositoi and the kouboukleion, with gold klibania; behind, at a distance of 10 metres. 

At the Chalke of the Palace, in front of the gate, a rostrum was set up; on the one side stood the golden organ, known as the "foremost wonder"; and on the other, a golden and bejewelled throne; and between them, the great gilded and bejewelled cross. Dismounting from his horse, the emperor indicated to the Symbasileus and the Domestikos to join him. Together, they entered the Holy Wisdom via the Holy Well and, having prayed, came out again through the same door; then, walking, they entered the Chalke and the Dometikos stood aside, the Emperor made the sign of the cross; and the demes cried out: "One Holy God!"

The people then presented him with golden armbands, and when he had taken them, the emperor wore them on his arms, accepting them with gladness. Then everyone praised him with hymns of victory, he then mounted his horse, crossed through the porticoes of the Achilles baths, along the wings of the Zeuxippos, and came out into the open hippodrome; going below the kathisma, thanking the populace, and making a speech himself on the successes of the war.

[SPOILER="Speech at the Hippodrome"][/SPOILER]

When the speech finished, the Emperor, the Symbasileus, and the Domestikos circled around the Hippodrome, followed by the Strategoi, then the Poryphrogenneta, the conquering Strategoi, the Eparch of the City, the Senate, and other officials and ministers. Having dismounted their horses, the Emperor, the Symbasileus, the Domestikos, and the Poryphrogenneta ascended the Imperial box, joined by the King of the Germans and his sister, the Abbess Sophia. There, they watched as the units marched into the Hippodrome. 

[SPOILER="Basil, Constantine VIII, and Constantine IX watch the procession"][/SPOILER]

When the procession finished, many dignities were conferred and promotions made from the rank of Imperial mandator to the lordly dignity of patrikios. Many presents were granted to the officials of the demes, and the population too, from the Emperor. Afterwards, chariot races was held. The Emperor refrained from supporting neither of the demes, whilst the Symbasileus cheered for both. The Charioteer, Giorgios, of the Greens, won, which caused a minor riot that was quickly brought to control by the Domestikos and the Varangians. Only five persons died, of unknown name and gender. 

- Micheal Psellus, the Chronographia 

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In his wildest of dreams, Otto had always wanted nothing more but to see Constantinople. The new Rome, the birthplace of his mother. He had thought, somehow, he could visit it in some capacity. Walk the Mese, cheer at the Hippodrome, talk philosophy at the streets, gawk at the Varangians, and maybe even walk into the Chrysotriklinos and the Great Palace of Constantinople. Never however would he thought that he could do that, but as a prisoner. 

​When his captors told him of his fate, he wanted to hate it. 

By God, he wanted to hate it. 

But...he could not. 

How the hell could he when this was quite literally his dream?

Constantinople.

The Queen of Cities. The heathen Northerners who called it Mikkelgard, the World's Desire. 

[SPOILER="Chrysotriklinos "][/SPOILER]

He had seen it, in a way. A great many rooms in Aachen were modelled after much of the buildings he now saw here. But to see the real thing entirely was a different experience. 

"Rise up, the divinely-inspired Imperial power!"

The choir cheered as the Emperor and the Symbasileus walked up towards their thrones. Both made the sign of the cross then sat. The choir continued. 

"Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth! Glory to God, the ruler of all! Glory to the Emperors, Basil and Constantine, divinely appointed conquering Emperors!"

At his side, Sophia clutched his hand. Behind them, some members of his court. All were dressed to impressed, them having been captured with their wardrobes. Otto himself was bedecked with his own colours, albeit his crown was gone. Here, in the belly of the beast, he was not Emperor of the Romans. 

"May God who rules over the visible and the invisible, think you worthy, rulers, to rule over the Romans in peace fora hundred years, and to celebrate the present day of your accession!" the choir chorused. 

"Axios!" 

Sophia clutched his hand tighter. She and him could feel eyes on them. They stuck out like a sore thumb, gaping and red. Otto knew it was all calculated. But Otto would not fall into the trap. He remained dignified, even if he no longer bore his crown. 

When the acclamations was over, the Emperor gestured. Silence fell. There, with a humble looking tunic, and Otto was confident that tunic was just as expensive as the baubles around, Constantine walked up and, offering obeisance before the throne and the Emperor, glanced down.

"Who are you, and why have you come before Basil, Autocrat and Emperor of the Romans?" Basil spoke up. 

"I am Constantine, Born of the Purple, and Commander of the Emperors Armies," Constantine recited. "By your majesties command, I have subdued the Bulgarians, The Serbs, the Illyrians. I have held the West for Rome, and by the grace of god, brought our ancient homeland into the wisdom of the Emperor." 

Basil nodded. 

"You have done well. What does the Domestikos ask as a boon for his service?" 

Constantine went silent, glancing down at the Emperor's feet, before he looked up. "I ask only, your Imperial Majesty, the honor to be in your service. There is no great boon for one to have, but to keep Rome great and greater still." 

Basil's gaze lingered on Constantine, his dark eyes sharp and calculating, yet carrying the faintest glimmer of approval. The Emperor's silence stretched for a moment, the weight of his presence pressing upon the entire court. Finally, he leaned slightly forward from his golden throne.

"It is as you say. There is no greater boon than to serve Rome. And you shall continue to serve her."

Constantine bowed his head, offering the usual reply, his voice steady but humble. "To serve Rome is to serve God. I am but a tool of the Empire, ready to wield my sword at the Emperor's will."

"Yet service requires responsibility," Basil cut, his voice like lightning. "It was impressed onto us the scale of Rome's returned dominions."

[SPOILER="Legacy of Rome"][URL unfurl="true" media="youtube:2DD_NR8fIpw, list: RD2DD_NR8fIpw"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DD_NR8fIpw&list=RD2DD_NR8fIpw&start_radio=1[/URL][/SPOILER]

​Otto felt his stomach fall. 

"It is on my authority, that the Catapanate of Italy shall be reorganized into the Exarchate of Italy," Basil announced simply. "And you shall be its Exarch." 

Constantine's head jerked up, his eyes widening in surprise. For all his composure, it was clear he had not expected this. His mouth opened slightly as if to speak, but no words came out. He glanced briefly at Basil, searching his uncle's face for some hint of explanation, but the Emperor's expression remained impassive, regal, and unreadable.

"Do you accept?" Basil asked simply. 

Constantine blinked, took a breath, and straightened his back, his voice steady as he replied, "I accept, your Imperial Majesty."

Basil nodded, his face still impassive, though there was the faintest flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. He rose from his throne, his movements deliberate and regal, as he descended the throne. The choir, dumbstruck and taken aback, recovered quickly, singing. There was a murmur of confusion among the gathered officials and nobles, uncertain of what to make of the announcement. But the cheers began to swell as the reality of Constantine's promotion sank in. The Exarchate of Italy, reborn. And Constantine, their Caesar, its new steward.

Constantine remained standing where he was, still processing the enormity of what had just occurred. 

Otto was frozen as well. His lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. Around him, the grandeur of Constantinople seemed to fade into the background, the only thing he could focus on being the words that had just been spoken. 

At his side, Sophia leaned closer, her voice low but urgent. "Otto," she said, her tone cutting through his daze. "What does this mean? Why is this... important?"

Otto blinked, as if snapping out of a trance. "This is a declaration of intent. By reviving it now, under Constantine's command, they are ensuring that Italy will remain firmly under their control. The Exarch will have absolute authority." 

Sophia blinked. Then realization dawn. "With strong control..." 

"The Greeks are not leaving," Otto finished. 

Renovatio Imperii.

Revival of the Romans.

Around them, the cheers of the crowd grew louder, the sound of celebration filling the grand hall. Constantine, now fully composed, turned to face the assembled masses, his expression resolute. He raised his hand in acknowledgment of their acclamations. The choir's voices swelled once more, their hymns echoing through the golden halls.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Exarch!"

Otto glanced up, to the faces of countless Emperors looking down at them. How they seemed to stare down into his soul. From Augustus, to the Five Good Emperors, to Justinian. And at the very centre, a stylized golden Chi-Rho, gripped by the talons of a soaring, bronze eagle. 

Eternal, and undying. 

Rome

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A/N: Here is your dose of hype and aura coming up. Next, more strategic discussions between Basil and Constantine. 

Now, why on Earth is Basil, control freak extraordinaire, would revive the Exarchate of Italy? Well, it all boils down to the fact that Basil is also pragmatic that he can't control everything. Trying to govern the Levant is going to eat his life. He cannot get distracted by some damn foolish thing in the West. Furthermore, the necessity of it. They are going to be staying in the West for a long time and a mere Domestic of the Schools isn't going to cut it. 

Constantine has shown himself to be a capable administrator and loyal general. What he needs further is authority. Plus, Basil also his his own plans in the coming future. 

All in all, not bad. 

More to come. 

Shout out to Constantine VII for his records. Otherwise, I would not be able to accurately pinpoint how a 10th Century Triumph would look like.