Chapter 21: Entertainment

Soldiers and subjects occupied every seat in the
amphitheater at Trier. The event had been in the making for the
past few days, while Crocus awaited the Emperor Constantine's
arrival. Constantine seated himself on the throne at the center of
the amphitheater, dressed in the fashion of Diocletian with his
mystical attire from the east. The audience had reason to cheer
because the Franks had been repelled from Gaul in record time.
In the process, two enemy kings had been captured and,
unknown to Constantine, were about to become the main event.
Crocus had planned the surprise for Constantine, whom he
thought would enjoy the spectacle.

"Let the games begin," he said, dropping a red rose from
his elevated throne.

Gladiators, the finest of those parts, entered the arena.
Captured Franks were their opponents, roughly ten of them.

Constantine was somewhat appalled at the event but
wanted to give the crowd a show worth seeing. He stood and
waved down until the crowd stopped cheering. The gladiators
and opponents came before him and he spoke.

"You men, Franks. This is your chance to become free.
For every man who stands at the end of his contest, I will allow a
second of his choice to go free."

The competitors, both willing and unwilling, bowed and
the audience resumed cheering. The gladiators and opponents
were clothed in armor and forced to fight one another. The
Franks fought with all their will, giving and receiving blows
from gladiators whose profession was to kill. One to one with
these professionals, the Franks didn't stand a chance. They were
slaughtered to the rhythm of the crowd's cheers. Still to come
was the main event, the surprise for Constantine.

The two kings, who appeared already to have been beaten
into submission, were escorted in front of Constantine by armed
guards. They stared at him with tears in their eyes, then went
down on their knees, begging for mercy.

Crocus stood and the cheers from the crowd became
whispers. He addressed the spectators with his deep, accented
voice. "Behold, the kings of the Franks!"

The audience applauded their capture until he signaled for
their silence. Observing Constantine's perplexed expression, he
added, "If any man survives this event he will be allowed to go
free."

Crocus took his seat as Constantine leaned forward in
blatant curiosity. A wave of cheers swept through the
amphitheater.

Then appeared the reason for the applause: two lions
leaped toward the kings. One man ran away in a panic, while the
other calmly stood and stared down at the ground. The lion
chased the man, who attempted to flee by leaping onto a wall and
climbing into a crowd. The spectators threw him down to the
lions who mauled him as soon as he hit the ground. The lion
ignored the wise king, who still stood motionless at the center of
the arena.

Constantine was somewhat relieved that both men had not
met that horrible death. However, that was to change.

Crocus hurled his chalice at the wise king and it landed
before his feet. The crowd took notice and did the same. Objects
of all sorts either struck the king, or landed near him. The
attention of the beasts was drawn to him as he collapsed and lay
in a fetal position, blood dripping from his head, where a stone
had met its mark. The throwing ceased as the lions approached.

Constantine was ready to stop the spectacle but knew well
that his subjects would not understand his intervention, and in
fact, would deem him weak. Without a word he watched the
abomination.

The lions circled their pray, snarling and growling before
the kill. The man trembled with fear, knowing his death was
inevitable. A lion came close enough to sniff him, touching his
muzzle on the king's leg. Then, having lost his nerve, the king
leaped on the lion and drove his knee into the beast's spine. His
efforts were in vain, however, as the lion threw him back onto
the ground. Both animals began to maul him. The cheers from
the spectators covered the king's screams.

Before the rest of the games finished, Constantine left the
stadium. Crocus followed him into his palace. Constantine saw a
travel-stained Cassius eating as he entered the dining hall of the
palace. It was a relief to see his old friend, but it didn't take away
the disgust he felt for what had just happened in the arena.

"Is their a problem, Constantine?" Crocus inquired.

Constantine turned and jumped at him, their chests
collided.

"There most certainly is," Constantine said angrily.

"I was under the impression that you would enjoy the
show."

"The show. Those were human beings. Kings, mind you. It
is not noble to make a mockery of the leaders of the local tribes."

"They are the enemy, and, as you have learned,
compassion for the enemy is a weakness. Besides, they are
Franks, barbarians."

"The same has been said about you and your Alemanni.
I'm sure the Franks consider us barbarians, as well, especially
after that display in the arena."

"The words you speak trouble me, Constantine. You have
never enjoyed seeing the enemy crushed before you? What is
really bothering you?"

Constantine interrupted Cassius' meal, ripping the cloth
from his friend's shoulder to reveal the deep scars left from the
lion who had attacked him.

"The display brought me back to my stay at the court of
Galerius. Listen carefully. Crocus. If the subjects want to see
blood, then they can see it provided by those who are willing to
spill it for wealth. However, I will no longer condone shows such
as the one today."

Crocus stormed from the room, offended by Constantine's
disrespectful tone.

Constantine sat down beside Cassius and rested his face in
the palms of his hands. Cassius champed on his food, as if
nothing worth interrupting his meal had taken place. He chewed
obnoxiously in the quiet room with his mouth open.

"You eat like a cow," said Constantine, peeking through
his hands.

"The flies even bother you today, don't they. My
Emperor?"

"I didn't expect to come back to this, that is all."

"Crocus is right, you know. The way to please the subjects
is to give them what they want. You were gone when they fought
these men. And when the enemy occupied and terrorized these
lands in the past, we were elsewhere also. Only the subjects of
Gaul know what atrocities these men, or those for whom they
were responsible, committed. Crocus was right."

"Do I owe him an apology?"

"Yes," he said, chewing the last of his meal, "but don't.
You are the emperor and to apologize and admit you are wrong
is unbecoming. It will subside and in the future. Crocus will
come to you first."

"I suppose it was for the good, then."

Cassius nodded approvingly as he wiped his mouth.

"Rumor has it, something spectacular occurred on your
visit to Britain."

"You must be referring to the sign in the sky."

"Is it true?"

"Of course, it is. I am still doubtful about its religious
connotation, although I believe that it behooves us to incorporate
it into the symbols of my reign."

"No problems then in Britain?"

"None. And yourself? How about Italy?

"Problems are an understatement. Soldiers approached my
men and me several times. I was almost spotted by Galerius
himself."

"Galerius was there?"

Cassius nodded. "As was his Illyrian army. They came to
Ravenna to crush Maxentius and his father."

"What happened?" Constantine asked curiously.

"Severus surrendered his position before Galerius could
arrive and they took Severus hostage."

"Galerius had to face Maximian on his own ground.
Defeat must have been imminent."

"Apparently everyone except Galerius thought so."

"What?"

They both began to smile.

"His troops had wet themselves by the time they reached
Namia. Maximian and his troops had him beat from the start, but
stonehead Galerius didn't see it that way."

Constantine pondered the significance of the story. He was
concerned that Galerius was captured, thus resulting in
Maxentius' appointment of Senior Augustus. "No? Galerius
didn't fight him, that would be too easy?"

"How could he? Galerius' troops wouldn't dare raise a
finger against Maximian."

Constantine couldn't imagine Galerius surrendering to
anyone, especially Maximian and his son who were now
considered by Galerius as usurpers. "Galerius retreated?"

"No, of course not. Instead Galerius invited a congress to
decide the matter."

"What a fool," Constantine said with glee, knowing that
Galerius had no chance to enforce his position at the
negotiations.

"Galerius said he had no quarrel with Maximian, but that
Maxentius would perish if he took arms against him. He
threatened that a peaceful solution was the only means by which
Maxentius would keep his life. Naturally Galerius and his
suggestions were rejected."

Constantine's laugh echoed in the empty room. He
couldn't believe Galerius' bold display of arrogance.

"Then Galerius ordered a rapid retreat from the area, and
didn't stop riding until he was out of danger. At which point, his
disgruntled soldiers robbed and looted the peasants as they left
the area."

Constantine shook his head, realizing that Galerius had
completely failed. "Not only was Galerius laughed at by his
enemy, his own troops made a mockery of him. The peasants
must think him an incapable emperor at best." They both
embraced and laughed. Revenge had been long awaited.

Cassius remembered something else. "By the way,
Maxentius himself slit the throat of Severus. It gets more
interesting. A struggle for power between Maximian and his son
developed in Rome. Maximian appealed to the Senate and to the
troops serving his son and publicly humiliated Maxentius. He
insulted him by proclaiming him incapable, and then ripped the
imperial purple from his shoulders. In the process, he threatened
a few members of the Senate. The army, which received twice
the payment from Maxentius than they had previously from
Maximian, turned their back on the old emperor. Maximian left
Rome in haste and attended a significant meeting."

Constantine rubbed his chin with his forefinger. He sat
back and asked, "Who attended?"

Cassius smiled, anxious to answer Constantine's question.
"Somehow, either through threats or diplomacy, Galerius
managed to pursuade Diocletian to attend a Congress at
Camuntum."

"Galerius holds something over Diocletian's head, and
what it is I do not know." Constantine was concerned, he feared
Diocletian taking the side of Galerius.

Cassius stayed silent and then sprung with a possible
answer, "Perhaps its Valeria. Maybe Galerius is holding her as
hostage, much like Diocletian did to you."

Constantine's mind raised with thoughts. "It never
mattered before, it has to be something else. Well, on with the
story."

Cassius took a moment to recall where he had left off
before beginning again. "Diocletian, in return, persuaded
Maximian to go into retirement. In the meantime, Maxentius
stayed in Rome and was forbidden to be present at the congress,
which condemned his having executed Severus."

"Maximian promoted his son to emperor only to resign
and have his son's title revoked?" Constantine's mouth dropped
open. "No wonder the empire is suffering. Fools are its
emperors."

"Your position as Caesar was reaffirmed and in Severus*
place was appointed Valerius Licinianus Licinius."

"No! Licinius?

"Yes, he obviously became chummy with Galerius over
the years and it appears he was appointed to a higher position
than that which he served in your cavalry regiment."

"He used to be second in command of my regiment when I
served under Galerius."

"I remember, and he is the same one," said Cassius,
adamantly.

"But he despised Galerius. He was even with us when we
sacrificed the ox."

"He was always there, Constantine. Doesn't that strike you
as odd?"

"He was working for Galerius. He was not our friend, as
we thought. He was an informer."

"He played his act out well. You and I were not the
wiser."

Constantine poured himself wine from the carafe. He
drank from his chalice, all the while feeling betrayed. "I take it
his principle residence will be Sirmium, where he will do as
Galerius asks."

"That would be the most obvious conclusion to this
fiasco."

"Such irony."

"I am not finished. You, too, become a part of this."

Constantine curiously leaned forward. "How?"

"Listen, and I will come to it. It turns out that Maximian
and his son had different ideas about ruling their domain. They
were at each other's throats since Maximian proclaimed his son,
and are now breaking apart. Besides the fact that Maximian did
not consult his son regarding the congress, Maximian decided to
come here and make an alliance with you."

"Maximian is coming here? We are not ready for him yet,"
Constantine said, shocked by the news.

"I was maybe a day or so in front of him. That will give
you plenty of time to prepare."

Constantine looked at Cassius with anger in his eyes.

Cassius lifted his hands and said smiling, "He comes with
a special offering to secure an alliance. Let me say that
Maxentius was irate when he discovered his father's plans."

"You should have told me right away, Cassius."

"I have. Look Constantine, this is your key to securing
your title as Augustus and finally repelling the yoke of Galerius,"
Cassius advised. "Take advantage of Maximian's hateful
temperament toward his son."

Constantine nodded. "Thank you, Cassius. No offense old
friend, but I would like some time alone."

Cassius stood, bowed, and left the room with Constantine
staying behind in deep thought.