Eagle Byzantium

The rest of the citizens were stopped by Caesar's guards outside the square. They were just there to join in the fun, using all kinds of calls to win the favor and charity of the rulers. Of course, who was in power? As "Roman citizens", the citizens certainly had a certain right to express their opinions. This ancient custom started from the ancient Roman city-state and has a history of 1,500 years.

There was a lot of noise outside, and in the beautifully decorated small room in the inner hall of the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom, Anna gently took off her pre-worn dress, crown and headdress in the steam from the wall water pipes, and stood in the corridor of the bathroom. Several maids were beside the eldest princess, doing meticulous descaling and cleaning work, and then applying some ointment on her body. In fact, Anna had completed this series of procedures in the bedroom as early as a long time ago. Now she was just following the prescribed ritual procedures.

More and more steam poured out, blocking Anna's eyes like fog. At this moment, her mood was still hazy. The faces of her father, mother, brother, and Gawain kept flashing and entangled in her mind, complicated. There was also the strange dream last night. Was the terrifying snake that symbolized her desire really so big that it could change the world? Where is the "Seven Ridges" that can bring her the imperial crown? Did Gawain take her there? But thinking about it carefully, how could it be possible?

Anna's thoughts became more and more confused. She held her shoulder blades with both hands, raised her face, closed her eyes and lips, and let the water droplets flow down the bridle pipe and spray on her hair and body. She kept praying for the mercy of the Virgin Mary to free her from confusion and anxiety.

At the same time, Caesar, wearing a silk robe, met with hundreds of bureaucrats, parliamentarians, Ducas's followers, and generals of the guard. Standing in the lobby of the cathedral, in the middle of the two-story stained glass mosaic wall, waiting for Anna and her mother Queen Irene to appear and announce on the lobby terrace.

The Patriarch Masdas could not hold back, he also walked in, took Caesar's arm, and said with a serious expression. "Now that His Majesty the Emperor is not in the capital, what on earth does the regent queen of the court have to do that requires such a big move? And it has to face the parliamentarians and citizens of the entire capital!"

"Respected Patriarch, the second leader of the believers, you should know what our family wants." Caesar Macolinus replied arrogantly.

"Are you going to elect a new emperor? Your ambition is not good, Your Highness Caesar."

"No, no, Patriarch, you misunderstood. Ducas and all the citizens of the Roman Empire just want to push the eldest princess Anna as the heir to the throne."

"Nonsense!" Masdas couldn't stand it anymore and became angry. "What you are doing is holding the sacred church hostage. It is also an insult to the current emperor, and it is also completely inconsistent with the laws of the empire."

"The laws of the empire are that everyone, no matter what his background is. As long as he can be recognized by citizens and elders, he is qualified to ascend the throne." Caesar was not panicked or guilty. "Now Emperor Komnenos is not in the imperial capital, so I advocate the introduction of four co-emperors, namely me, Anna, Prime Minister Buril, Grand Duke Desyrum and the third glory of the empire Nikephorus Brennus, to hold the remaining power of the entire empire."

"What's the reason?" Masdas was not angry. He knew that Caesar proposed this. It was to firmly put Ducas on the throne. He was Anna's uncle, and the bureaucrats in the capital, including Buril, followed his lead. It was well known that Brennus would be Anna's husband in the future, so the ugliness of this proposal was beyond words. It was so naked.

"Of course there is a reason. I and the palace regent Queen Irene have received reliable intelligence that the Sultan of Konia, Giliki, is planning a huge attack on the Nicomedia Fortress, which is likely to threaten the safety of the imperial capital. The defense responsibility of the capital and its surroundings is very heavy, and Queen Irene is a woman after all. So I think at this moment, a co-emperor should be elected to deal with the matter." Caesar should have been prepared and had a convincing argument.

"I repeat, this is illegal!" After saying that, the Patriarch turned his annoyed eyes to the Prime Minister of the Empire, Buril Fortius, but the man's eyes wandered and avoided him guiltily.

"Speaking of illegality, is it that the Komnenos family's ascension to the throne is so in line with the wishes of the people of the Lord and the Empire? You must know that during the Civil War between the Four Caesars, it was because of his marriage to our Dukas family that the balance of victory tilted towards this surname. , it was because my father supported him and married Irene to him that an unknown family like him came to the throne. First of all, you have to ask me, why was Dukas like this? Because of the compromise of the interests of all parties, in such a life-and-death situation, young Alexius ascended the throne, so that Dukas would not cause excessive reactions from all parties. Thrace and Macedonia were given to him, the Brennus family gave him Dishulam, and the Phokas family gave him Asia Minor. This is how Komnenos came to be. This weak and poor family today." Macaulinus was determined to "convince people with reason," so he raised his hands in front of the patriarch and the bureaucrats, "but now Alexios is dizzy, he He wanted to violate the ancient democratic procedures and attempt to establish a family in the Roman state. Without the approval of the majority of the senatorial class, he secretly prepared to let his son John ascended the throne and created many ridiculous new titles, which continued to dim the ancient glory!" After saying that, Caesar raised the golden eagle scepter to everyone present, including the high-ranking monks. , patriarchs, dignitaries from all walks of life, and high-ranking foreign envoys, said loudly, "I would like to ask everyone, if John accepts the throne, do you agree?"

Immediately, loud doubts broke out, but some people also shouted approval, "I am thinking about the empire. Only Anna Komnenos, who has been recognized by the Ducasse family, will also marry in the future." Giving Breenus as his wife, she and her husband ascended the throne together to calm the empire. Boiling and restless. Please elect a true Roman purple-robed woman with the same noble blood as his husband! As for John, I hereby promise that as long as he and Alexius are willing to accept your plan, they can With security and wealth, you can enter a monastery in the future and serve the country with theology."

With Caesar's call, the atmosphere in the entire cathedral's vestibule reached its climax. The trumpets were blown and flower petals flew down. In front of the green Libyan marble columns, many people flocked to the terrace, where the beautiful and dignified Queen Irene slowly walked to the railing of the terrace, carrying Anna, who was wearing a small crown and was wise and smart. Anna, who was wearing a solemn dress and made everyone admire her appearance, slowly walked to the railing of the terrace. (To be continued ~^~)