The Magnaura

[Cecil XIX]

A letter arrives in the Magnaura from Kousinos Sophianos. It is read aloud by the pages in the Magnaura, and later copies of the letter are distributed to those senators who were not present for the reading.

Senators of the Magnuara,

As has been noticed by members of your august body, both myself and Senator Erotikas are marching towards Constantinople. My subordinate has told you that we are doing so in pursuit of the killer of Armatos ek Naksou. This was the truth.

We came to the conclusion that no less a man than the late Basileus Ioannis II was the one responsible. Naturally we wanted to wait as long as possible to announce our findings, as we did not want to provoke more fighting than would be necessary to attain justice.

How ever, none of that is important now. Indeed, the pursuit of Armatos’ murderer was of secondary concern to us.

You see Senators, the truth is my name is not really Kousinos Sophianos. Though I did not know it until recently, my true name is Constantine Ksanthopoulos.

I am the son of Anna Komnenos and Makedonios Ksanthopoulos, and I have come to claim the title of Roman Emperor that has been bestowed upon me by the Lord.

In order to seize what is mine, namely the Imperial Throne and the city in which it resides, I hereby declare war on Basileus Ioannis Tagaris, Caesar Andronikos Komnenos, and Ioannis III Komnenos.

I urge all Senators to recognize my sovereignty forthwith and submit to me. Though it is divine mandate that I become Emperor, it is up to each of us to choose how that is to be so.

Good day to you all.

-Constantine XI Ksanthopoulos
Basileus Romaion

[rossahh]

Before the message bearer can depart, Zigavinos asks


I at the least would like a letter sent to your lord, this Constantine Ksanthopoulos, in which he clarifies this statement: "I have come to claim the title of Roman Emperor that has been bestowed upon me by the Lord."

Does he say that God Almighty has annointed himself (Constantine) as the true Basileus?

[Zim]

Arintheos sighs. All of the tenseness and uncertainty that accompanied his last announcement seems to have disappeared, replaced by mild irritation.

So that's what this is all about? A weak excuse to allow a pretender to the throne make his claim? Not even a believable excuse. I knew the Basileus quite well and would not believe him to stoop to having anyone killed by assassins, not even his worst enemies. Now we are expected to believe he would have Armatos, a man he did not have cause to hate, killed? I would ask how Erotikos and Kousinos came to that "conclusion" but I suspect that in their years of planning to betray the Empire they have invented a number of lies that would confuse the issue long enough to allow Kousinos to finish making his move.

Indeed, although I would willingly kill the man where he stands for making such an accusation about the recently departed Basileus there is an even more important danger than to Ioannis Komnenos' reputation, that being the danger this pretender causes the Empire. Anna Komnenos was an honorable woman and I doubt this boy's story, but even accepting it at face value he still has no real claim to the throne. The Basileus had chosen as his heir Methodios Tagaris. While I think Methodios' betrayal invalidated that decision and suspect the emperor eventually had another in mind it is clear that this child was never named the Imperial heir. Even the Tagaris boy has a better claim, being named so by the man man who was still formally Caesar.

The throne rightfully goes to the heir chosen by the Basileus , and not to anyone who happens to have a large army and the slightest claim to royal blood.

[flyd]

Isaakios was also present, his fleet being anchored nearby. He was rather enjoying relaxing in the cool chamber of the Magnaura, while sipping on a delightful wine, but this announcement seems to have stirred him a little.

Never mind the throne! By claiming this heritage, this peasant bastard pretender has implied that my sister is an adulteress. If you're taking messages, messenger, tell my "nephew" that I will kill him, and tell his men to expect no quarter.

[Ignoramus]

Ioannis Komnenos III, rises up hastily after his father, just as indignant.

I will not have my aunt, an imperial princess of the blood, be slurred by these slanderous accusations. How convenient, for this loathsome fellow to somehow claim imperial blood runs through his veins.

My father and I will see to it that these two usurpers are put to the sword in an honest battle. I, too, will give no quarter, and indeed call on all who follow him to desert or face the wrath of our family.

As for the ruling Basileus, the son of the traitor Tagaris, the question of his legitimacy may be left until after this matter is disposed of.

The young Komnenoi resumes his seat.

[Ramses II CP]

Io rises with a wide grin and bows to the assembled senators,

So you see gentlemen, it is precisely as I have said all along! The man who was responsible for the death of the Grandmaster was too highly placed for me to give him any warning, and even after his death he has raised massive armies to defend his reputation. The very heart of the Empire is corrupt, and the evidence lay there for all to see all along. Remember the humiliating false war against the Order? It's sole purpose was to avenge the imaginary insult done to Princess Anna, which our former Emperor knew all too well. When Grandmaster Ksanthopoulos retired from public life the Emperor still never forgave the Order, and finally conspired to take his revenge.

I will remind you all, I was there when the assassins struck. They struck again, immediately afterward, at a company of men under our true Emperor, Constantine XI Ksanthopoulos. What are the odds that two opponents would be hit by such methods back to back and not by the same opponent?

Would any man here truly say that the son of Basileus Aleksios has in any way, shape, or form been his legitimate heir? Are any of you truly loyal to the rebel's son who has now claimed the throne? This is the day to remake the Empire in Aleksios' image! Have you all forgotten how nobly Grandmaster Ksanthopoulos behaved in victory and defeat? His heir unites the good blood of Emperor Aleksios with the noble, pious blood of the founder of the Order of St. John.

Look at the state of the Empire today! Our Megas has driven us to financial ruin, our former Emperor drove us to lose many of our richest provinces in his greed and anger! The succession is already unclear, but one of the men with a claim is near Constantinople. Is of a known and good legacy. Is prepared to lead us into a new age of prosperity in Aleksios the Bold's name! Is it not time for new blood, new leadership, with the heart of the old?

It saddens me that the armies of the Empire will march to defend the honor of a family that kills it's own, but I accept that in this day and age we have truly fallen so far. I call upon all men of honor to stand with our true Emperor, Constantine XI Ksanthopoulos, and avenge the red handed rule of the unworthy Komnenos family lest you be the next to taste an assassin's blade at their command!

I hereby declare war on Basileus Ioannis Tagaris, Caesar Andronikos Komnenos, and Ioannis III Komnenos.

Come if you will, come and remake the mistakes that have begun to tear apart our good Empire, but know that if you are defeated you will be given another chance. I am not vidictive, merely sworn to revenge. When God gives our true Emperor victory you need only swear allegiance and you will go free.

Good fortune and peace on all here assembled. I will be available for any question anyone might have.