The Magnaura

[flyd]

I am deeply saddened by the loss of my brother. We were not close and I opposed him much more often than supported, but I am willing to admit, though it be at this too-late of a stage, that I had done it unjustly. He did not turn out to be the tyrant some among us feared he would be. History may judge him a controversial figure, but he was no more polarizing than some of his opponents. Despite much posturing, the bloody civil war never came, and the Empire remains united, more or less. If I could, I would also thank him for leaving Constantinople to my son Ioannis, who may turn out more like his uncle than his father, and when I say that I do not mean it as a bad thing, possibly for the first time in my life.

I also mourn, as we all should, Methodios Tagaris. Over the years, his conquests have benefited the Empire greatly. There is no need to judge a man by his last act, ignoring his entire body of work. I would say that he has brought more to the Empire than he has taken away, and for that he should be commended. I commend him, and offer condolences to his son and the rest of the family.

As for the son, Ioannis Tagaris, I hope he can be a force for unity at this critical time. I look forward to hearing what he has to say.

Now to move on to other matters, and if you will indulge me, I will take an indirect path there. The ancient Romans had a old custom that no armed soldiers were allowed within the city of Rome. Once the Roman Republic expanded outward, no standing army was allowed in Italy. While some of the justification for these rules had their basis in tradition and their pagan religion, there was also a real security benefit: the Senate and the magistrates in Rome could operate without the threat of violence. The Romans of old did not believe that coercion and violence should be a part of politics.

When Caesar entered Italy, the war was on. Everyone knew it. He did not try to claim, nor would anybody have believed him, that he was merely trying to take the fastest route to Sicily. Marching an army on the capital is a clear act of aggression. And acts count for a lot: if a dog growls and barks at you, do you assume that he means you no harm, because he has not articulated that fact and provided his reasons? Do you assume that Caesar is in Italy under arms because he wants to see the sights?

No satisfactory explanation has been provided for why Ioannis Erotikas and Kousinos Sophianos have brought armies to the interior of the Empire. Anyone wishing to switch theaters from the east to the west would announce such innocent intentions, and if he were really polite, he would go around. All we have gotten out of these two is empty rhetoric. They have not even stated who the killer of Armatos is; if they do this for the element of surprise, they have done well, because now nobody knows who the killer is, except them, and the killer. I'm sure he remembers doing it. The rest of us may be aiding the killer unknowingly, but that's a small price to pay for the great suspense. Maybe we should start a guessing game? We have also gotten pointless ranting about 'greater crimes', which is just $#@%. Really.

I agree with Megas Voutoumitis' assessment that these men are responsible for abandoning the Turkish front, which is in dire need of troops, and complicit in the extermination of the good people of Damascus. I further charge that they have crossed the Rubicon, so to speak, and that they threaten the peace and prosperity of the Empire. Whomever they wish to attack, it is not acceptable. Finally, I hold that we do not accept their self-nomination as judges, and that the matter of Armatos' murder can only be settled in the open, and that no one can be convicted without any evidence.

It is the duty of every Senator who believes in peace and justice to oppose these brigands. War has already been declared in effect, and I do not wish to wait for them to make the formal overture of declaration when it is most strategically convenient for them. Therefore,

I declare war on Ioannis Erotikas and Kousinos Sophianos.

I hope the Empire will have peace soon.

Isaakios Komnenos, son of Alexios Komnenos.