Episode 102
Cardinal Rotair was quietly confident of his victory.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, he had gathered ample intelligence even before setting foot in Byzantium. Within two days of arriving in Constantinople, he confirmed that all the information he had collected was indeed accurate.
The threat from Khwarezm was not some phantom menace but a stark reality, and Byzantium was in no position to retreat. It was obvious that Byzantium alone could never withstand Khwarezm, not unless it was during the peak of the Komnenos dynasty. The current state of Byzantium was so weakened that it had suffered consecutive defeats even against rebel forces.
Though Emperor Alexios III was trying to stabilize the situation, it would take at least a decade for the nation to regain its balance. The power disparity was such that a mere jab from Khwarezm could be a fatal blow to Byzantium.
In other words, without European assistance, Alexios III could never hope to defend Anatolia. While Khwarezm’s extended supply lines might allow Byzantium to hold out temporarily, Khwarezm was no amateur state. How else could it have swiftly conquered Persia and become the dominant force in the eastern Islamic world?
If Khwarezm was advancing north, it must have the necessary conditions in place. The Vatican’s experts suspected that Khwarezm might have formed some sort of pact with the Ayyubids.
“For Saladin, simply facilitating Khwarezm’s supply lines would yield significant advantages. And if Khwarezm receives proper supplies, Byzantium won’t stand a chance.”
Military matters rarely see unanimous agreement, but this time was an exception. The power gap between Byzantium and Khwarezm was immense, and there were only two ways to overcome this crisis: seek European aid or abandon Anatolia and retreat to the safety of Constantinople’s triple walls.
No matter how formidable Khwarezm might be, its elite cavalry couldn’t breach those walls. This was an unchanging truth, no matter what. Experts believed Khwarezm would stop at swallowing Anatolia.
However, Rotair was certain that Byzantium would never abandon Anatolia.
“If we unite under the banner of Christ, Khwarezm won’t dare advance further. And if they do, we’ll show them the might of Christ’s army!”
”…”
Alexios III had ascended to the throne with the promise of rebuilding a declining Byzantium. But if he lost even the western part of Anatolia, which he had barely managed to hold onto, what then? The emperor’s prestige would plummet, and the subdued rebels would surely rise again.
Thus, Byzantium had no choice but to yield. This was the logical course of events. Even the chief diplomat, Monomachos, could only bite his lip in silence, unable to object.
Yet, why did the emperor, seated at the head of the table, wear such a serene expression? Was he merely feigning calm, or did he have some other plan in mind? Either way, Rotair found it unsettling.
“To alleviate any concerns, let me assure you that we have no intention of using this situation to assert dominance over the Orthodox Church. We wish to stand as equals against the Islamic threat.”
“But as you said, how can we maintain unity among different nations? It seems inefficient…”
“Of course, a clear command structure is necessary, so appointing a supreme commander would be wise. Naturally, the side with the strongest forces should take command, don’t you think?”
”…”
Monomachos couldn’t refute such a straightforward statement. This meant that the command would naturally fall to the Holy Roman Empire, as Byzantium couldn’t muster a large army without overextending itself.
With this arrangement, the Vatican could easily persuade secular states to join the cause. Particularly, the vain Henry VI of the Holy Roman Empire would likely welcome the opportunity with open arms.
“If we successfully repel Khwarezm’s invasion, Rome will have complete control over Anatolia. It’s a renowned granary, known throughout Europe. In twenty years, Rome could fully restore its former glory.”
A single concession could secure decades of prosperity. Byzantium would gain practical benefits, and the Vatican would seize the moral high ground. Only a fool would fail to grasp the intent behind this offer.
Monomachos sighed softly and shook his head. “The Vatican’s proposal is reasonable and worth considering. However, even if the Vatican agrees, there’s no guarantee that other European nations will share the same view. If their stance differs, it could put us in a difficult position.”
“In such a case, the Vatican will take responsibility and mediate. We can put this in writing.”
“And depending on the specifics of the proposal, it might be difficult for me to assess…”
“No, I will handle that.”
Emperor Alexios III, who had been observing the meeting with a calm demeanor, interrupted Monomachos.
“The Vatican is extending a gesture of goodwill. We shouldn’t overanalyze it, lest we make them uncomfortable. Isn’t that right, Cardinal Rotair?”
“We are grateful that Your Majesty understands our sincerity.”
“Organizing a true crusade under the name of Christ to fight against Islam… It’s a proposal I find very appealing. I have no objections.”
“With our intentions aligned, His Holiness will be pleased. Let’s proceed to discuss the details…”
“Ah, but before that, may I confirm a few things?”
Things were going too smoothly. Alexios III was no fool like Isaac II. Realizing he might fall into a trap if he wasn’t careful, Rotair refocused and nodded.
“Of course. Ask anything.”
“If our intentions are truly pure, God will never abandon us. Thus, defeat is not an option. But as you said, if impure desires interfere, God will not stand by. The Catholic Church is aware of this, correct?”
“Indeed. As we mentioned earlier, we’ve learned from past mistakes and are striving to show a changed face.”
“So, if we were to lose, it would mean someone harbored ulterior motives. Wouldn’t the prophet agree?”
Without hesitation, the prophet nodded at the emperor’s question.
“If this war truly aligns with God’s will, we cannot lose. If we do, it would mean something else was at play.”
“Exactly. But we are willing to unite under the name of the crusade, trusting the Vatican’s word. If an unfortunate outcome arises…”
At this point, Alexios III paused and looked down at the cardinal. Understanding the emperor’s intent, Rotair quickly weighed the pros and cons.
Byzantium was essentially saying, “If we follow your lead and lose the war, you must take full responsibility.”
Normally, such an unreasonable demand could be dismissed, as the outcome of war is in the hands of fate. However, Rotair had declared this war to be God’s will, urging the formation of a united crusade.
If he now said, “That’s not possible,” the response would be, “Then is this truly God’s will?”
“Is this how they plan to counter? He’s quite the strategist.”
If they lost the war, the damage to Byzantium would be immense. Losing Anatolia and the emperor’s political standing would be just the beginning. How could they possibly compensate for that?
Not only Byzantium, but the Vatican would also be at risk if they lost. However, if they didn’t lose, everything would be fine. After all, this plan was proposed by Edward Marshall, the prophet who hears God’s voice.
As long as the Vatican kept its greed in check and managed the secular rulers well, they couldn’t lose. Having completed his calculations, Rotair swallowed hard and slowly nodded.
“Your Majesty, rest assured, the concerns you have will never come to pass. If they did, it would mean we misled you with our words, and we would be held accountable. However, the Papacy would never use God’s name to spread falsehoods.”
“I believe you,” replied Alexios III. “If the Papacy speaks with such conviction, we have reason to accept their words.”
Watching Alexios III’s subtle smile, Lothaire finally understood why the emperor seemed so amused.
Even if it was to win a war, relinquishing command could only stir discontent among the Byzantine nobility. The emperor’s actions could easily be criticized as groveling to Europe out of fear of Islam.
But what if all of this was framed as the will of God, backed by a prophet and the Papacy? And if, by any chance, things went awry, the Papacy would bear the responsibility. This would make it easier for the emperor to justify his actions.
After all, if it was deemed the will of Christ, they could convince themselves they weren’t truly bowing to Europe.
‘Yes… just as we use them, they use us… it’s inevitable.’
Understanding the situation, Lothaire shifted his perspective from feeling outmaneuvered to seeing it as a mutual achievement.
If it’s a win-win and the outcome is favorable, then everyone can smile in the end.
Yet, unsettled by unexpected variables, he glanced at Marshal’s face to calm his lingering unease.
Seeing the prophet seated beside Alexios III with a reassuring smile, he finally felt at ease.