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A Tale of Honour and Civility - I
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From misty remembrances of the ancient past comes one story from the legendary empire known as Ancien Regnum. The provinces of the empire embraced the entire civilized world and beyond. Its legions protected it from invasions from without and usurpers from within. Ancien Regnum was ruled by the beneficent Emperor Chalcedon, known for love of his subjects yet harshness toward the recalcitrant.

Concerned by rumours of defiant subjects in the trading port of Histinium, which is found in the distant province of Occidentalum, and afraid that foreign influences had infiltrated the city, Chalcedon sent his beloved nephew, the renowned warrior Cadmus, to Histinium to seek the truth of such troubling rumours.

With no fanfare or revelation of his imperial mission, Cadmus arrived in Histinium and explored its curtiláge and lesser towns in the region. He soon found that indeed a usurper called Invado with grandiose visions and great pomposity gathered an army in his own name, which came to be known as the Amplitudo Exercitus. Encouraged by Invado and his defiance of imperial precedence, other minor military units arose in neighboring towns which also ignored approval by the Imperium. These called themselves Bellicus Pomontium and Castrensis Astium.

Instructed by his uncle Emperor to determine the threat of Amplitudo Exercitus to the Empire, Cadmus approached Invado and offered his services as an experienced warrior. But Invado rejected these repeated offers, sensing that this warrior could pose a threat to him. Reporting this failure to Chalcedon on his throne in the grand capital of Panthenium, Cadmus was instructed to found a legion in the Emperor’s name in Histinium.

Greatly encouraged by imperial support, Cadmus returned to Histinium and commenced his imperial mission. Whereupon he founded an imperial legion to be called Legio de Chalcedon, that is the Legion of Chalcedon. With a small staff, Cadmus made known throughout the province of Occidentalum and within Histinium and its environs the institution of the imperial legion and invited local warriors to join. This struck fear into the heart of Invado, who quickly began a campaign to isolate the Emperor’s small military presence. By subterfuge and artifice, Invado persuaded the lesser military units and warriors near Histinium to avoid Legio de Chalcedon and its leaders. Hearing of this insult, Emperor Chalcedon appointed Cadmus as Legatus Legionis, that is a senior commander of legions. Following suit, the Magistrate, that is governor, of Occidentalum called Plurímus Maximus, appointed Cadmus as Legatus Proconsulis Militaris, which is to say commander of all the military in the province of Occidentalum.

Cadmus again extended a hand of friendship to Castrensis Astium and Bellicus Pomontium and invited each in turn to affix themselves en toto to Legio de Chalcedon. Both declined this honour, whether dissuaded by Invado or simply reluctant to abandon the pretense of independence is unclear from ancient records. Still Castrensis Astium extended a hand of friendship and hinted at possible future cooperation to Cadmus.

Urged by the Emperor, Cadmus persisted in trying to be a friend to these usurpers. When the great religious Festival of the Gods approached, Cadmus learned that Invado had traditionally gathered the warriors of Amplitudo Exercitus, joined by warriors of Bellicus Pomontium, to march together in a grand military parade in the Festival of the Gods. Cadmus commenced two efforts. First he offered the opportunity to Bellicus Pomontium to march with Legio de Chalcedon in the military parade. This offer was quickly refused with the retort that Bellicus Pomontium always marched with Amplitudo Exercitus. Second, Cadmus communicated to Invado an offer to cooperate with the planning and coordination of the military parade, thus preserving the dignity of Invado. Invado did not have the courtesy of even replying to this generous offer of friendship by the Emperor’s commander. This could not be considered anything other than a deliberate insult to Emperor Chalcedon and Ancien Regnum.

To be continued…..






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Petrus Augustinus
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