Post by Admin on Jul 5, 2016 21:55:19 GMT
These being the faithfully recorded events of the fateful negotiations on the Thracian plain, between Theodosius Augustus and Uldin Khan:
To the metallic peal of golden trumpets, the mighty Golden Gates swing open. The Purple Chi-Rho standard of the Emperor streams out, held high by the soldiers of the Praesidio Visigothica, their burnished armour glinting in the bright Thracian sun.
They pass down through the main gate, the outer gate, and across the bridge of the wide moat, fanning out as they reach the plain. They march in close order forward, followed by slaves carrying with them a huge purple damask pavilion.
When the slaves deposit the Pavilion at the allotted point, D yards in front of the gate, the trumpets sound again, even louder. The fanfare heralds the coming of the Augustus himself, surrounded by further members of his Visigothic Guard.
He is accompanied by his chief ministers and advisers: Pulcheria Augusta, the Imperial sister and regent; and Zemarchus Antoninus, the Praefectus Praetorio per Oriens. The Emperor himself is carried in an enormous golden throne, and is deposited in the legation tent.
Theodosius Augustus addressed Uldin Khan:
"We are pleased, friend Uldin Khan, to meet you at last. Our former Regent and dear tutor Anthemius spoke most highly of you, and held your friendship in great esteem", Theodosius speaks with all the awkwardness of youth, his voice neither broken, nor unbroken, his tone imperious, but lacking yet the confidence of age and experienced. What is clear is that he is displeased, or perhaps rather saddened, by the unexpected arrival of the mighty Khan.
"We hope, indeed, that we are still correct in calling Your Highness friend. For your actions here have confused us, you have crossed the Danubia with a mighty host, in breach of our long standing and faithfully held Treaties of Friendship. In the case of your message to us, we hope that it was mistranslated, for it seemed to us that you threatened our destruction in most unequivocal terms.
"We find ourselves hoping that this is part of some unfortunate misunderstanding, that our differences in language and culture have led us not to recognise the marks of benevolence and jest. For certainly, Rome has done everything in our Treaties and more. We have provided the correct payments and promptly, in addition we have sent personal gifts to show our deeply held esteem. We defeated the renegade Bazgun, who's betrayal threatened the very fabric of your Empire. We assure Your Highness, the Rome remains your friend".
With the end of his prepared spiel, the boy Emperor seems to settle down somewhat. It seems clear to him that the extreme pomp with which the Augustus is surrounded tires and bores him.
Court Eunuchs bring forward a table, carafes, and glasses. Uldin's glass is filled directly from the Emperor's carafe (a fine Cappadocian Red, lightly oaked), a sign of friendship and esteem, and the two negotiating parties are invited to sit, a chance to abandon courtly formality...
-----------------------------
Uldin stands as the boy emperor enters the tent. Uldin himself sits on a simple unadorned wooden chair. The boy had heart and the regal attributes Uldin had come to expect off all who ruled with his permission.
"That was a good speech Young king you are correct of course in thinking that you may still call me friend, however as you well know it was not widely know among my tribes that bazgun was a traitor. I cannot reveal this now as it would simply disgrace his tribe and make me look like a weakling, however I have devised a plan which will allow us to keep our harmony."
Uldin took a pack towards the King with his hands held up to show that there was no violence in his actions.
"Do you know what two things the Huns place value on above all else' no? I will tell you... Loyalty among the tribes and gold young one gold is the key to any Huns heart as he knows that with it he may be all powerful if only for a while."
Uldin paused in his speech for a moment examining the chalice that had been placed in front of him it was very fine indeed. He pressed the cup to his lips looking directly at regal young Augustus. He took a gulp and laid the cup down again on the table.
"I propose this Ivaylo must go he is who most of my people blame for bazguns death for news travels how I wish it to among my people, secondly you will double your tithe to show my people your repentance in return you may ask one favour of me and lastly you will allow my horde travel through your territories unhindered these are the terms I have set." With that Uldin sat and awaited the reply all of his personal bodyguard stood ready just incase the terms where too much for the court to swallow.
------------------------------
The boy looks to his advisors, Zemarchus, the elderly senator and Praetorian prefect who always espouses caution, and to his hot-headed and zealous sister. Neither of their advise would be useful at this juncture. It is 'dear uncle Anthemius' that Theodosius thinks of, attempts to emulate...
"Your friendship is welcome, I thank you, Uldin Khan. But your terms, as they currently are, cannot be accepted. You understand, that our payments according to the treaty were specifically put in place as an alternative to access to our lands. If I were to allow your forces into Rome, and then pay you for the privilege? I do not know who would rise up sooner, the nobility, our non-Roman allies, or the plebeians.
"Furthermore, I find it strange that you, who requested of us the destruction of Bazgun, should now claim it shows weakness. Your enemies lie in ruins, destroyed by your ally. I have always learned that powerful, faithful allies were a boon to the power of a people.
"These requests, or should I say demands? They do not smack of friendship. You know full well that we cannot agree to them. We have not the wealth to pay more, nor the inclination to allow unfettered access to our borders. There is no reciprocity, no respect in these requests. Perhaps Anthemius was wrong to believe that we had a friend in you, Uldin. It seems that you have taken our inclinations towards peace for weakness. Our willingness to pay a lack of resolve. I assure you, Constantinople does not baulk in the face of threats.
"You have a mighty army, true. You can ravage and loot our lands, true. But what then? You cannot breach our walls, so long as Romans stand to defend them. What do you do when the gold we give you dries up? How do you maintain loyalty, when that coin that purchases it vanishes? Once our lands are looted and barren, what then? We will yet stand, strong in our city, supported by an Empire of greater depth and magnitude than you can fathom.
"And then what of the risk? Our payments to you came with none, you received the gold that you craved, and in return we had a faithful friendship. That friendship, Uldin Khan, made the whole world quake.
"If you seek to take our wealth by force, you will get but a fraction of it, and ever you will have the risk of defeat... for you Uldin Khan, whose power is dependent on fear and might, defeat in battle means more than just losses, it breaks your aura of invincibility. What happens, when your subject peoples realise that they outnumber you, and that they have a mighty friend in Rome. A friend whose strength has been stewarded while yours spent? Already, by our leadership, a force of Germans has defeated a Hunnic army. We had been good friends, in this, we have not spread far and wide 'Hark! The Huns are defeated! Hail the conquering Lombards! Germans and Romans will defeat the hordes!' because we knew that it would weaken your rule. When word spreads? When losses mount? Then what becomes of an Empire held together by fear and intimidation?
"Our peoples have nothing to gain, and much to lose by conflict. I hope you have the wisdom to see that.
"Rome will not increase payments. We cannot afford it. Rome will not allow access to your armies, further encroachments will be considered an act of war. We will make not payments on our Treaty until the Hunnic army withdraws.
"Do not make this mistake. We have no quarrel with you, and have given you no reason for quarrel with us. Find another to flex your muscles against."
-----------------------
Uldin rose his face like thunder who was this well to question the might of the hunnic empire and worse yet refuse the great Khan himself.
"I understand your foreboding young one but this is the end of you and your empire I was open to bargaining from you but now you have stirred up a passion in me that you will live however briefly to regret."
With that final word Uldin and his retinue mounted and left never looking back.
-----------------------
Alea iacta est
To the metallic peal of golden trumpets, the mighty Golden Gates swing open. The Purple Chi-Rho standard of the Emperor streams out, held high by the soldiers of the Praesidio Visigothica, their burnished armour glinting in the bright Thracian sun.
They pass down through the main gate, the outer gate, and across the bridge of the wide moat, fanning out as they reach the plain. They march in close order forward, followed by slaves carrying with them a huge purple damask pavilion.
When the slaves deposit the Pavilion at the allotted point, D yards in front of the gate, the trumpets sound again, even louder. The fanfare heralds the coming of the Augustus himself, surrounded by further members of his Visigothic Guard.
He is accompanied by his chief ministers and advisers: Pulcheria Augusta, the Imperial sister and regent; and Zemarchus Antoninus, the Praefectus Praetorio per Oriens. The Emperor himself is carried in an enormous golden throne, and is deposited in the legation tent.
Theodosius Augustus addressed Uldin Khan:
"We are pleased, friend Uldin Khan, to meet you at last. Our former Regent and dear tutor Anthemius spoke most highly of you, and held your friendship in great esteem", Theodosius speaks with all the awkwardness of youth, his voice neither broken, nor unbroken, his tone imperious, but lacking yet the confidence of age and experienced. What is clear is that he is displeased, or perhaps rather saddened, by the unexpected arrival of the mighty Khan.
"We hope, indeed, that we are still correct in calling Your Highness friend. For your actions here have confused us, you have crossed the Danubia with a mighty host, in breach of our long standing and faithfully held Treaties of Friendship. In the case of your message to us, we hope that it was mistranslated, for it seemed to us that you threatened our destruction in most unequivocal terms.
"We find ourselves hoping that this is part of some unfortunate misunderstanding, that our differences in language and culture have led us not to recognise the marks of benevolence and jest. For certainly, Rome has done everything in our Treaties and more. We have provided the correct payments and promptly, in addition we have sent personal gifts to show our deeply held esteem. We defeated the renegade Bazgun, who's betrayal threatened the very fabric of your Empire. We assure Your Highness, the Rome remains your friend".
With the end of his prepared spiel, the boy Emperor seems to settle down somewhat. It seems clear to him that the extreme pomp with which the Augustus is surrounded tires and bores him.
Court Eunuchs bring forward a table, carafes, and glasses. Uldin's glass is filled directly from the Emperor's carafe (a fine Cappadocian Red, lightly oaked), a sign of friendship and esteem, and the two negotiating parties are invited to sit, a chance to abandon courtly formality...
-----------------------------
Uldin stands as the boy emperor enters the tent. Uldin himself sits on a simple unadorned wooden chair. The boy had heart and the regal attributes Uldin had come to expect off all who ruled with his permission.
"That was a good speech Young king you are correct of course in thinking that you may still call me friend, however as you well know it was not widely know among my tribes that bazgun was a traitor. I cannot reveal this now as it would simply disgrace his tribe and make me look like a weakling, however I have devised a plan which will allow us to keep our harmony."
Uldin took a pack towards the King with his hands held up to show that there was no violence in his actions.
"Do you know what two things the Huns place value on above all else' no? I will tell you... Loyalty among the tribes and gold young one gold is the key to any Huns heart as he knows that with it he may be all powerful if only for a while."
Uldin paused in his speech for a moment examining the chalice that had been placed in front of him it was very fine indeed. He pressed the cup to his lips looking directly at regal young Augustus. He took a gulp and laid the cup down again on the table.
"I propose this Ivaylo must go he is who most of my people blame for bazguns death for news travels how I wish it to among my people, secondly you will double your tithe to show my people your repentance in return you may ask one favour of me and lastly you will allow my horde travel through your territories unhindered these are the terms I have set." With that Uldin sat and awaited the reply all of his personal bodyguard stood ready just incase the terms where too much for the court to swallow.
------------------------------
The boy looks to his advisors, Zemarchus, the elderly senator and Praetorian prefect who always espouses caution, and to his hot-headed and zealous sister. Neither of their advise would be useful at this juncture. It is 'dear uncle Anthemius' that Theodosius thinks of, attempts to emulate...
"Your friendship is welcome, I thank you, Uldin Khan. But your terms, as they currently are, cannot be accepted. You understand, that our payments according to the treaty were specifically put in place as an alternative to access to our lands. If I were to allow your forces into Rome, and then pay you for the privilege? I do not know who would rise up sooner, the nobility, our non-Roman allies, or the plebeians.
"Furthermore, I find it strange that you, who requested of us the destruction of Bazgun, should now claim it shows weakness. Your enemies lie in ruins, destroyed by your ally. I have always learned that powerful, faithful allies were a boon to the power of a people.
"These requests, or should I say demands? They do not smack of friendship. You know full well that we cannot agree to them. We have not the wealth to pay more, nor the inclination to allow unfettered access to our borders. There is no reciprocity, no respect in these requests. Perhaps Anthemius was wrong to believe that we had a friend in you, Uldin. It seems that you have taken our inclinations towards peace for weakness. Our willingness to pay a lack of resolve. I assure you, Constantinople does not baulk in the face of threats.
"You have a mighty army, true. You can ravage and loot our lands, true. But what then? You cannot breach our walls, so long as Romans stand to defend them. What do you do when the gold we give you dries up? How do you maintain loyalty, when that coin that purchases it vanishes? Once our lands are looted and barren, what then? We will yet stand, strong in our city, supported by an Empire of greater depth and magnitude than you can fathom.
"And then what of the risk? Our payments to you came with none, you received the gold that you craved, and in return we had a faithful friendship. That friendship, Uldin Khan, made the whole world quake.
"If you seek to take our wealth by force, you will get but a fraction of it, and ever you will have the risk of defeat... for you Uldin Khan, whose power is dependent on fear and might, defeat in battle means more than just losses, it breaks your aura of invincibility. What happens, when your subject peoples realise that they outnumber you, and that they have a mighty friend in Rome. A friend whose strength has been stewarded while yours spent? Already, by our leadership, a force of Germans has defeated a Hunnic army. We had been good friends, in this, we have not spread far and wide 'Hark! The Huns are defeated! Hail the conquering Lombards! Germans and Romans will defeat the hordes!' because we knew that it would weaken your rule. When word spreads? When losses mount? Then what becomes of an Empire held together by fear and intimidation?
"Our peoples have nothing to gain, and much to lose by conflict. I hope you have the wisdom to see that.
"Rome will not increase payments. We cannot afford it. Rome will not allow access to your armies, further encroachments will be considered an act of war. We will make not payments on our Treaty until the Hunnic army withdraws.
"Do not make this mistake. We have no quarrel with you, and have given you no reason for quarrel with us. Find another to flex your muscles against."
-----------------------
Uldin rose his face like thunder who was this well to question the might of the hunnic empire and worse yet refuse the great Khan himself.
"I understand your foreboding young one but this is the end of you and your empire I was open to bargaining from you but now you have stirred up a passion in me that you will live however briefly to regret."
With that final word Uldin and his retinue mounted and left never looking back.
-----------------------
Alea iacta est