Episode 52

In the Middle Ages, the speed at which rumors spread was, unsurprisingly, much slower than in modern times, or even the more recent past. However, people of that era were acutely aware of the importance of information and made every effort to bridge this gap. As a result, by the time news from the Vatican spread across Europe, the East had a rough idea of what the Pope had been up to.

While the Islamic world was predictably in an uproar, there was another nation where public opinion exploded just as fiercely. No matter what anyone said, the pride and foundation of Europe was Rome. Every European king was eager to weave tales of their deep connections to Rome, striving to link their nations to it in any way possible. In a sense, this is how the Holy Roman Empire came into being—a creation born from the desire to claim a piece of Rome.

Yet, there was still a nation that held a part of the ancient Rome, not a fabricated one. The Byzantine Empire, or the Eastern Roman Empire, was a place whose very name and identity were subjects of endless debate. Naturally, the Byzantines claimed they were the true Romans and genuinely believed it. Unlike the Western European states that emerged after the fall of Rome, the Byzantines maintained that Rome had not split into East and West but merely divided administratively. To them, the Eastern and Western Roman Empires were not separate entities.

The Byzantines saw themselves as the true heirs of Rome’s history and culture, dismissing the Holy Roman Empire as a mere imitation. This belief was deeply ingrained in them, and in terms of legitimacy, they arguably had a point. Of course, the Holy Roman Empire did not accept this claim, loudly declaring that the Byzantine notion of being Roman was nothing more than a Greek delusion, and that the Byzantines were merely an extension of Greece.

Despite these disputes, the symbolic significance of the Byzantine Empire as Rome was somewhat acknowledged even in Western Europe. Even the Islamic world recognized the Byzantines as Romans, referring to them as such. For the Islamic world, the status of the Byzantine Empire was a significant issue. The difference between fighting and conquering a mere Greek state and the successor of the great Roman Empire was as vast as the sky and the earth.

There were countless other controversies, but ultimately, the people of the time treated the Byzantine Empire as a state with continuity from Rome. However, this did not mean they were universally respected or revered. Many mocked the Byzantines for claiming the Roman name while their power dwindled under Islamic pressure.

Yet, as the saying goes, even a rich man’s downfall lasts three years. The Byzantine Empire, which had been in decline, dreamed of a revival under the Komnenos dynasty in the 12th century. Agriculture, industry, and commerce flourished, filling the treasury, and the central army numbered 50,000. Naturally, the capital, Constantinople, reached its peak, and the empire seemed poised to reclaim its status as a great power of the time.

However, with the fall of the Komnenos dynasty and the reigns of Emperor Andronikos I and the current Emperor Isaac II, everything fell apart.

“Your Majesty, reports are increasing that officials who bought their positions are intensifying their exploitation of the people. We must take action…”

“No problem. The empire’s wealth won’t run dry from such trifles.”

“But, Your Majesty…”

“Ah! You only know half the story. Do you know how much the daily customs revenue of the capital is? Our empire’s wealth is such that the daily customs alone bring in 20,000 gold coins. In such a prosperous city, squeezing a little more is the quickest way to boost productivity.”

Emperor Isaac II, who had been considered somewhat competent at the start of his reign, was in truth a man driven by greed. He sold government positions like market vegetables, sacrificing the empire’s wealth and future to fill his own pockets. Despite suffering humiliations from Frederick I of the Holy Roman Empire and defeats by Bulgaria, the emperor remained oblivious. Instead, he imposed special taxes to replenish the depleted imperial treasury and restore his diminished authority.

Though the Byzantine emperor was an absolute monarch and the head of the Orthodox Church, such tyranny could not be tolerated indefinitely. Recently, even the Senate and the Church have been urging the emperor to reconsider his actions. Isaac II was not entirely ignorant of these developments. While he might be foolish for ignoring them, he was not so dull as to be unaware of the situation. In other words, he was not lacking in intelligence, but his greed overshadowed it.

Thus, as the emperor was preoccupied with thoughts of further depleting the nation’s future, urgent news arrived.

“What? A council?”

“Yes, the Catholic Pope has declared a council.”

Georgios II, the newly appointed Patriarch of Constantinople, looked grave, but Isaac II merely scoffed.

“A council without our participation is no real council. Haven’t they held councils on their own before? Let them do as they please this time too. Why the fuss?”

“It worked before, but this time is different. Your Majesty must have heard of the prophet Edward Marshall.”

“Ah, that prophet. Of course, I know. Remarkably, he’s said to be genuine. The world is full of wonders.”

“The Catholics attempted to assassinate him, but failed. Enraged, the Pope has taken drastic measures.”

“And that’s what this council is about?”

A council is a gathering of Christian theologians and bishops to discuss issues of doctrine and regulation. The famous doctrine of the Trinity was established at such a council. Since Emperor Constantine I first convened a council, both the Western Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches participated until the Great Schism. These seven councils, where both groups participated, are commonly referred to as ecumenical councils. However, after the schism, the Catholic and Orthodox Churches ceased to interact, and naturally, councils involving both disappeared. When a reason arose to hold a council, each church held its own to address major issues.

Until now.

“The Western Catholic Church has declared that this council will officially determine whether the Bible or the Quran is the truth. They’ve even issued a challenge to Islam, demanding an official response if they don’t intend to back down.”

“Has the Pope lost his mind? There’s no reason for the Muslims to heed that.”

“The Catholics seem confident. We speculate that the presence of Edward Marshall is the source of their confidence. This is a significant event that will greatly impact us as well.”

“Even the Orthodox Church? Why?”

When the emperor asked, puzzled, the Patriarch’s expression darkened slightly. Unlike the West, where the Pope and the emperor were separate, in the Byzantine Empire, the emperor was also the head of the church. Although the Patriarch of Constantinople was the chief among bishops, he did not wield the same authority as the Catholic Pope. The true head of the Orthodox Church, endowed with divine authority, was the emperor, not the Patriarch. However, this did not mean the Patriarch was powerless or a mere figurehead; he could wield authority comparable to the emperor’s at times. Nonetheless, the emperor was the nominal head of the church, and in such critical matters, he needed to take the lead in resolving issues. If he failed to grasp the gravity of the situation, things could become complicated.

“Your Majesty, the Catholic and Orthodox Churches have been completely divided for over a century. Numerous attempts at reconciliation have failed. In this context, such a major event has erupted. The Western Pope has even boldly sent us a letter inviting us to participate in this council.”

“Can’t we just ignore it? We’ve done so before, if I recall.”

“We could then, but not now. The Western Church claims that the prophet Edward Marshall will reunite the divided church and establish the truth of the church.”

“Then what if we don’t recognize Edward Marshall? Can’t we just say it’s the Catholics acting on their own?”

“Edward Marshall has performed too many undeniable miracles. If we deny him now and later have to acknowledge irrefutable evidence, the backlash will be enormous.”

Since learning of Edward Marshall’s existence, the Eastern Orthodox Church had naturally conducted thorough investigations to verify him. Given the gravity of the matter, the church mobilized all its resources to examine every record. They unanimously concluded:

-This man is genuine. His deeds and prophecies, inexplicable unless he is a prophet, prove it.

This report had already been submitted, but it seemed the emperor had forgotten. Patriarch Georgios II sighed softly and continued.

“Your Majesty, given the current situation, we must seriously consider participating in this council.”

“Hmm… But won’t that make it seem like we’re bowing to the Catholics?”

“Yes, that’s the issue. However, if we withdraw now, our legitimacy will suffer greatly…”

The Eastern Orthodox Church often refers to itself as the true church or simply the church, reflecting their pride in preserving the original ideals of the early church. If they were to reject a universally recognized prophet or fail to seek unity for political reasons, it would not reflect well on them.

The worst-case scenario would be if the Catholics were to outmaneuver the Muslims at a council where the Orthodox Church was absent. Should that happen, the Orthodox Church would be dismissed as a false church, while the Catholics would be seen as the rightful heirs of Christianity.

Even if the Muslims don’t participate, the Catholics could still boast about their position. The Catholics hold all the cards, ready to benefit no matter the outcome.

Understanding the situation, Isaac II Comnenus had a brilliant idea. If he could achieve something significant here, it might offset all the negative rumors currently circulating. Perhaps he could even subtly introduce a few more special taxes to fill the coffers.

“Patriarch, I’ve come up with an excellent plan. Let’s put it into action.”

“Excuse me?”

“To negotiate with the Muslims, the East and West must set aside past grievances and seek unity. The perfect person to bridge that gap is, of course, Edward Marshall.”

“Indeed.”

“So, invite him to Constantinople. I’ll personally win him over and make him our ally.”

Isaac II couldn’t help but smile at his own ingenuity. Who could resist a mountain of gold coins, prophet or not? And if they remained indifferent, well, more money could always be offered. If they still held out? Then even more money would do the trick.

The emperor was utterly confident in his belief that money could solve anything. Spending the hard-earned treasury was painful, but he saw it as an investment for greater gains.

“I should find out what the prophet likes,” he mused. “Whether it’s wine, women, or wealth, lay it all out and see what catches his interest.”

It was a plan that might make the Patriarch faint if he knew, but Isaac II was nothing if not bold.