‘How could I refuse, Serenity?’ Timothy replied, momentarily overcome. He felt a great surge of hope and gladness. The emperor’s proposal offered real hope that Theoderic would be brought to see sense, with the bonus that the rift between himself and the king might be healed. ‘My commission from Zeno has never, to my knowledge, been revoked, which hopefully makes me still an agens in the service of the Eastern Emperor.’
‘It does indeed, my friend. If you still have the document, we will have it updated with our seal, any increments of pay to be made up in full. If not, I will give the order to my Magister Officiorum that a fresh commission be-’
He broke off as the door crashed open and a figure in gilded armour burst into the room.
‘Julianus!’ exclaimed the emperor in surprise and displeasure. ‘We assumed our Magister Militum per Orientem to be in Persia. What is so urgent that it causes you to enter unannounced?’
‘A thousand pardons, Serenity,’ declared the other, ‘but what I have to tell cannot stand on ceremony. A truce with Persia was the reason I returned post-haste to the capital, to seek your ratification of a provisional treaty. A short time ago, as I was disembarking at the harbour of Phospherion, grave news came in about the latest actions of Theoderic. Not content with taking Sirmium and occupying Pannonia, he went on to invade the empire and has just defeated a Bulgar army commanded by Sabinianus. This, Serenity, is war!’
* The Gulf of Corinth.
* It was actually Sophocles. (‘Whom Zeus would destroy, he first makes mad’, Antigone, c. 450 BC.)
* Unlike that of a consul ordinarius, the name of an honorary consul, such as Clovis became, did not appear in the Fasti (state records, especially consular lists). Western consuls, their appointments subject to ratification by the Eastern Emperor, were nominated by Theoderic.
THIRTY
A dishonourable victory which Romans snatched from Romans with the daring of pirates
To Theodericus Amalo, king of the nation of the Ostrogoths and our vicegerent in Italia, greetings.
Whereas it has come to our attention that within the months of Iulius and Augustus of this year present you did knowingly and without permission from ourselves both capture the city of Sirmium and occupy the disputed territory of the civitas of Bassianae, commonly known as Pannonia Sirmiensis, being the eastern sector of the former Roman province of Pannonia Secunda, and moreover thereafter did proceed without just cause or provocation to enter under arms into our imperial province of Moesia Prima, and did there, in alliance with a proscribed outlaw and criminal, to wit, one Mundo, make war against our imperial forces commanded by our Magister Militum per Illyricum, we now desire and demand that immediately upon receipt of this communication. .
Timothy looked up from the scroll and in a strained voice asked, ‘Do you really want me to go on, Deric? Why don’t I cut to the chase and tell you in my own words what Anastasius wants? Then we can decide how best to respond.’ His mind flashed back to the meeting with Anastasius, and the plan that, for a brief moment, had seemed to offer a happy resolution to the crisis with Theoderic.
Until, that is, arriving from the blue like a ballista-bolt, the news from Julian (now a mature and hardened veteran) had smashed the plan to smithereens. Privately, Timothy had felt the situation was not past saving. He was convinced that the ‘invasion’ of the empire had not been intended by Theoderic, and would peter out as soon as the leaders of the host managed to talk the men out of their madness. He sensed, however, that it would be useless to try to make the emperor and his general see that; Anastasius’ attitude had hardened, and Julian was clearly determined to teach Theoderic a lesson. Here was a marvellous opportunity to be revenged on the youthful prince who, thirty years ago, had shown him up at the hunting of the great boar Cambyses, and who later had made him look a fool by countermanding his order to shoot, when charged by Zeno’s Excubitors. Recognizing Timothy even after such a lapse of time, Julian had shot him a look of pure malevolence, stemming, the Isaurian had no doubt, from the slap he had administered at the boar-hunt — a blow clearly neither forgotten nor forgiven. Timothy knew that, should Julian ever find the opportunity, he, too, would be singled out for vengeance.
‘“Deric”? I know no “Deric”,’ replied Theoderic in coldly sneering tones. The two men — Timothy standing, Theoderic enthroned — were in an audience chamber in the king’s palace in Ravenna. ‘You will address me as “Regnator” or “Your Majesty”. And do not presume to suggest that “we” respond to Anastasius. As far as you and I are concerned, Trascilliseus, there is no longer a “we”. You arrive from Anastasius — a vir spectabilis,* no less, and his official nuntius. No, let all be done according to correct form; then there can be no misunderstanding. Pray proceed.’
Timothy ploughed on wretchedly:
. . delivered and announced by our trusty and well-beloved servant Timotheus Trascilliseus, you hereby withdraw all troops from our imperial territory and from the other regions aforesaid (a state of war now prevailing between the Regnum Italiae and our Imperium Romanum), which action will suffice to signify the cessation of hostilities, and hereinafter do solemnly swear and promise to limit your activities solely to those proper to the remit of the office of vicegerent, on pain of forfeiture of the said office.
Given under our seal and hand, the Most Holy the Most Serene Anastasius, Augustus of the Romans, at the Great Palace of Constantinopole, IV Kalends October in the year of the consuls Sabinianus and Theodorus.*
‘You have betrayed me, Trascilliseus,’ accused Theoderic. ‘The very fact that you come from Anastasius tells me you have spoken to him concerning myself.’
‘I would never betray you!’ cried Timothy, hurt to the quick. ‘It is true that I spoke of you to Anastasius, but only in your best interests, in an attempt to remedy the misunderstanding that has developed between yourself and the emperor. A dangerous misunderstanding. As things stand at present, you could be in peril, Majesty. Anastasius’ senior general is Julian, whom you must remember from your youth. He is to raise an expedition to enforce the withdrawal of your troops from Moesia and Pannonia. Don’t tell me he won’t exploit his command as an opportunity to settle old scores. For your sake, Majesty, it’s vital he be given no excuse to do so.’
‘Your concern is touching, Trascilliseus. First treachery, now a warning. You would do better to consider your own position. No doubt you’ll be expecting to return to Anastasius bearing my reply. Instead, you will remain here in Ravenna, as. . let us say as my “guest”, pending further developments.’
In other words, a hostage against any tricks that Julian might play, thought Timothy, grim foreboding growing like a cold lump inside him.
In the Senate House, old Festus, the Caput Senatus, banged his staff on the floor and called the next speaker: ‘Publius Quinctilius Junius Theotecnius Constantius, Praefectus Urbis Romae.’