Chapter 10: Imperial Divination

Outside the palace entrance in Antioch, a priest with a
gold band around his head and glimmering gold bracelets on his
arms held a lamb between his legs in preparation for the
sacrifice. It cried out desperately, as though aware of its fate. Its
muzzle was sealed closed with twine. Then the sharp gold blade
slid across its throat, severing the muscles that connected its head
to its body. The haruspex allowed the animal to collapse, its head
dangling like a spring from the spinal cord. The lamb lay on its
side kicking as blood pulsated from the laceration. The man
didn't wait for it to die before plunging the knife into its
underbelly and removing its entrails with his bare hands. He then
proceeded to search for the customary markings to complete the
divination.

Constantine observed the sacrifice, accustomed to the
slaughter that always preceded political assemblies. Some
citizens of the court who were Christians made the sign of the
cross in passing and were seen by the chief haruspex. The
desired markings upon the entrails were not found, and the chief
ordered a second sacrifice. The haruspex followed the same

ritual as prior, and the Christians were again seen making the
sign of the cross. Failure to discover normal markings on the
second set of entrails incensed the chief. He stalked into the
palace, only to return with the Caesar and tribunes by his side.
Galerius had not yet departed for the court in Thessalonika.

Constantine looked on, horrified by Galerius' presence,
which could only make matters worse.

"By the gods! Can you not sacrifice another animal?"
Galerius asked.

Upon hearing this, Constantine rolled his eyes.

Galerius stared at the chief haruspex, awaiting a response.

The chief answered with anger. "We can sacrifice a herd if
you wish. Although we still will not find the normal markings."

"And why is that?" Galerius inquired.

"Irreverent people are obstructing the divination," he said,
annoyed.

"Who dares interfere with the divination?"

"The Christians," the haruspex said.

Galerius eyed him scornfully. "I'll take care of this
situation myself."

Constantine's voice lashed out across the courtyard.
"Under whose authority?"

"My own! I am Caesar, lest you forget, boy!" Constantine
facetiously knelt until Galerius entered the palace along with his
tribunes. The crowd of soldiers, citizens, and haruspices set their
gazes on Constantine, who had scoffed at one of the most feared
men in the east.

It wasn't long before Galerius returned with even more
officials. He surveyed Constantine with contempt, then spit in his
direction. "Having received the emperor's approval, I order
members of the court to make sacrifices to the gods. Those who
do not participate in the rite, will be arrested and suffer
accordingly." He stalked back into the court as the throng
dispersed in a panic. Constantine walked leisurely amidst the
frightened crowd.

Cassius approached him. "Constantine, you'd best seek
out an animal for sacrifice. You are a member of the imperial
court."

"I have just the animal in mind, but I do not think the
Caesar would appreciate it." Constantine pulled Cassius by his
toga. "Follow me!"

They ran outside the fortified walls to the pasture, where
Constantine and his companion manhandled an ox. Licinius
joined his colleagues in the struggle and helped safely secure the
animal.

"Why an ox?" asked Licinius.

"For two reasons," Constantine said. "Because it is the
animal closest related to the Caesar."

"And because it comes from a special herd reserved
exclusively for Galerius," Cassius finished. Their laughter
weakened them as they gradually pulled the tied ox to the palace
entrance.

"The tragedy is that this animal will needlessly be killed,"
Constantine said, interrupting their chuckles.

"The real tragedy is that we have dishonored the poor
beast by comparing it to the Caesar," said Cassius. His comment
set them laughing again, making it impossible for them to lug the
large animal.

"Who is going to do the actual killing?" asked
Constantine. "I know I'm not."

They ceased their efforts and stared at him.

"I came up with the idea so that leaves you two to do your
master's bidding."

"Oh, shut up and help us tug this beast. I will do the
sacrifice," Cassius said. "Of course, both of you will hold it
down and assist me in the process." No longer laughing, they
made better progress, moving the animal to the very entrance of
the palace.

The corpses of sacrificial livestock were strewn about the
court. Flies swarmed on the viscera that hung out of the body of
each animal. The haruspices checked the entrails as Constantine,

Cassius, and Licinius contributed their share. The men lay the
slain ox beside the sentry who stood on guard at the palace
entrance. Its blood and stench permeated into the palace.

During the divination performed by members of the
imperial court, another sacrifice was occurring inside the palace.
Diocletian, Galerius, and a dozen chamberlains huddled around
an onyx table in a room with frescos depicting the emperor in
battle. A chamberlain would occasionally offer a suggestion,
knowing well that his opinion mattered only minimally. The real
decision came from the emperor, who exercised absolute
authority.

Galerius continued his argument to ensure that Diocletian
would comprehend the grave importance of the subject.

"Letters will be sent to every regiment ordering that if the
soldiers do not sacrifice to the gods, they are to resign."

Diocletian was about to interfere with the Caesar's
proposal when Galerius quickly prevented him from speaking.
"Maximian at Le Valais-let us not forget the example he set."

"I will not have another Le Valais," Diocletian angrily
answered. "It was a mistake for Maximian to order the execution
of an entire legion, especially such a successful one."

"I say that perhaps Maximian was onto something at Le
Valais. Perhaps we should follow his example," Galerius
contemplated aloud.

"No! Never again will I have such a spectacle occur during
my reign."

"Do not be so sure. As you know, without a uniform
religious belief in the army, unity cannot be established. This
lack of unity threatens the integrity of the tetrarchy," Galerius
accurately pointed out.

"I do agree then to the letters." The emperor gestured to a
court official. "Gather the scribes together and get to work on

this immediately." The man bowed and left the room. "However,
I want you to understand exactly what transpired preceding the
infamous massacre."

"It was not a massacre. The legion willingly offered their
heads for the taking."

"Do not interrupt," Diocletian said angrily. "The order was
to force the commander to renounce his faith or suffer the blade
of the sword. The highest-ranking officers of the legion were to
resign, or renounce their faith. I was not clear enough to
Maximian, whom I thought understood my orders. Instead he
acted as a tyrant, and you, my subordinate," Galerius shuffled in
his chair, "praise this tragedy."

"I feel that it can be used in our favor. We should exploit
history by including a reminder of the infamous event in the
letters."

"My understanding was that you wished to repeat history,"
said Diocletian. "Very well, if that is what you are arguing, I
approve."

"If it were solely my decision, I would purge the empire of
the Christian faith," Galerius boldly stated.

"You are not, and let us not forget who is! I am prepared
to tolerate all religions in the empire, as long as the citizens abide
by the laws of the land. Unlike you, Galerius, I do not find
conflict a necessity." Diocletian took to his feet as the others
dropped to a bent knee. "That concludes this meeting."

He walked out of the room, meditating about his decisions,
which he knew had been influenced by the Caesar's
manipulation. Had Galerius not redeemed himself during the
second Persian campaign, Diocletian would have publicly
humiliated him for his discourteous words. Now he feared him.

Severus and Maximinius escorted the Caesar out of the
imperial court to observe the sacrifices, not knowing that the last
offering, Constantine's ox, had already taken place. The stench
of viscera crept into their nostrils until they could see the
dismembered carcass of the ox. Maximinius covered his mouth
as Galerius and Severus hurried out in search of the guilty party.

The court was strewn with carcasses being examined by the
haruspex.

Severus interrupted the priests' examination of the
entrails. "Did you see who slaughtered this ox?"

The haruspex turned toward him with an agitated glance.
"My job is to observe the entrail markings, not those who
sacrifice the animals." He then realized the Caesar was standing
beside Severus and knelt.

"Respect priest. It was a simple question requiring a
simple answer," said Galerius, a fanatical pagan, who knew all
the haruspices well. He surveyed the grounds in search of
evidence as to the people involved in killing the ox. He turned to
Maximinius. "The guard in the next corridor, bring him to me at
once."

Maximinius and a royal guard stepped out on to the
redolent grounds.

"You requested my presence," said the guard as he paid
his respects.

"Did you see who slaughtered this ox?" Galerius stood
with his hands on his hips awaiting a response.

The guard contemplated answering truthfully. "No, I saw
the silhouette of two men and possibly a third from my position
in the palace."

Galerius angrily stomped his foot. "Was there anyone
beside the haruspices that could have recognized who killed the
ox?"

"No, Caesar. Everyone else had most likely completed
their contribution to the divination and headed back to their
quarters. The ox was killed just before you came down the
corridor." He pointed to the pool of blood that was spreading
toward the palace. "The gash is fresh, as you can see."

Galerius clenched his fists and jerked his head to
Maximinius.

"You can resume your post," said Maximinius to the
guard.

"They laugh and scoff me!" Galerius examined the ox
along with Severus and Maximinius.

"What Christians could have done such a thing?"
Maximinius inquired.

"That was the Caesar's ox from his special herd, you
fool," Severus exclaimed.

"It is obvious that these were men from the army who
knew about the herd," Galerius said. "I can think of one person
who might have done this, and somehow I know I am right.
However, nephew, I will put the blame on the Christians, and in
the future, both guilty parties will feel my revenge."