Chapter 44: The Fall of an Empire and the Unchanging of Time
Inside the grand throne room, the ambiance harked back to the opulent and regal setting of the late Byzantine period.
Elaborate mosaics adorned the high vaulted ceilings, depicting scenes of imperial grandeur and religious devotion.
The room itself was bathed in a warm, golden glow, courtesy of intricately designed chandeliers that cast dancing shadows upon the marble floors.
Arguments filled the air as two individuals debated the authenticity of the impending plague, their voices echoing off the ornate walls.
Emperor Manuel II, seated upon a magnificent and intricately carved marble throne, exuded weariness as he leaned casually on its armrest.
Beneath the elevated throne platform where he sat, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Iosef II, stood alongside his priests.
He was draped in his resplendent liturgical garments, with a kamilavka and klobuk adorning his head, symbolizing his authority. His phelonion, an elegant white robe, cascaded gracefully.
Over this, the epitrachelion, a richly embroidered stole.
His cuffs and belt, meticulously adorned. On his right side, the nabedrennik and epigonation, while the rason enveloped him, a flowing robe of devotion.
Together, these vestments reflected the patriarch's role as the spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox Church, exuding an aura of grace and reverence as he presided over the congregation.
In front of him was the co-emperor John VIII Palaiologos, the man who most recently won a chivalrous war against the heathen Ottoman, and captured its Sultan as the result.
However, instead of congratulating him for bringing glory to the empire and to the Lord, the Patriarch's expression was far from pleased. This was due to the baseless rumors propagated by the co-emperor upon his return.
"Your Highness," the patriarch began with a concerned expression, "it is imperative that you acknowledge the potential for public outrage stemming from this... statements."
"Your Holiness," John responded calmly,
"I understand that my claims may seem incredulous, but I personally witnessed the symptoms in the city of Bizye during my journey to the capital not long ago."
Unfazed by the patriarch's caution, John continued to recount the symptoms he had observed in a child he encountered in the city and the actions he took upon identifying the disease. He then went on to present his suggestions.
"If we delay implementing lockdown measures, the contagion will not only infiltrate every corner of our city but may also spill beyond its borders into neighboring provinces. Swift and decisive action is imperative to contain its spread."
"We must ensure rigorous monitoring and quarantine measures for merchants arriving from the affected region, including the immediate isolation of the vessels they arrived on. Any repercussions can be addressed subsequently, and compensation can be sought through proper legal channels."
He continued, however, the reaction from his speech and subsequent suggestion sparked intense amount of protest amongst the clergymen which accompanied the Patriarch, most of whom were outraged by John's impertinent disregard to the Church authority.
"Your Highness! Your proposal could potentially lead to damaging repercussions against us! I cannot support such a drastic measure!" remarked one of the priests.
"Indeed, detaining merchants solely on suspicion would seriously damage our empire's diplomatic relationships with the nations to which these merchants belong to, and the church reputation as a whole! Your Majesty, I implore you not to entertain this idea! Plague or not, we shouldn't risk any diplomatic condemnation."
Another priest exclaimed, but rather than the plague, it seems that they were more concerned of the political implications than the death that might ensues.
His appeal was aimed squarely at the emperor himself, who responded with no expressions to John's contentious suggestion.
The emperor remained silent, waiting for John to provide a compelling explanation for his proposal.
John couldn't help but let out a sigh and shake his head as he observed the priests opposed his ideas.
It was as if they were instinctively repelled by the very mention of 'plague', they disregarded the issue entirely, instead concerns directed more towards political implications and their religious authority.
However, he understood the underlying reasons for this repulsion.
The word 'plague' was synonymous with 'curse,' and as such, it naturally elicited strong opposition, especially from the moral authority that was the church, which at this point in time, still under the church's discretion.
Medical advancements were not progressing as rapidly as other technologies during the late Middle Ages, they were not entirely stagnant or antiquated either.
The field was predominantly controlled by the religious orders, which were totally common at the time, and very much underdeveloped due to it being neglected after the decline of the empire.
In Constantinople for example, there were already hospitals dedicated to the practice of apothecary and medical treatment, but it was owned by the church, and not of the state, thus it was almost outdated and not sufficiently maintained.
Lack of attention and proper advancement, this field had been left to stagnation.
The primary reasons were insufficient funds and the shortage of personnel. Many practitioners of the field were priests and nuns of the church, most of them were unable to fully commit to it for some various reasons.
Thence, only a handful of priests willing to dedicate themselves to the field of medicine, and even they were a rarity.
Consequently, the field of medicine was intentionally neglected by both the church and the state.
In the Roman classical antiquity, hospitals and medical care had always existed, despite modern scholars' reluctance to discuss it, most of its practices and records were kept within the confines of the royal libraries and the churches.
Clinics were abundant during those times, largely fueled by an increasing interest in the art of medicine, spurred on by the aftermath of wars and disease outbreaks, though the degree it were operated varied between regions, severely decentralized.
These clinics at those days often paid homage to deities associated with healing, but the medical field itself was not highly developed and practical which in turn, looked down upon by the common people for its association with the wealthy and high class preference.
Medical practices were only accessible to a wider population, particularly the impoverished, after the spread of Christianity, but even then, it was not properly introduced and many took advantage of it to gain wealth instead.
These early clinics eventually evolved into military hospitals, paving the way for the establishment of the first dedicated public hospital by Basil of Caesarea, also known as Saint Basil, in the Anatolian province of Caesarea.
Contrary to common misconceptions, it wasn't religion that hindered the progress of this field, though they did contribute to it to some degree, but the people itself.
Humanity by itself are in fact a selfish creature, even if they claim that their cause were just in the eyes of God, they took advantage of the fact and made mockery in His name instead.
It was the prevailing superstitious and conservative societal sentiments of the era that posed obstacles to advancement, society repulsed with the notion of change, and as per usual, the church had to abide with the common norm and perception of the time, leading it to adapt very slowly.
During these time, both churches and state officials tended to focus on the societal sentiments that influenced their beliefs, rather than solely attributing their beliefs to their religious roots, thus it was merely cultural than religiosity.
This somewhat contradicts the conventional narrative put forth by modern secularists, among whom John was previously associated in the modern world, where religion poisoned the mind of common folk with their perpetual 'antiquated' dogma that leads to degradation of society.
It should however, be contributed by factionalism within both the churches and the classist circles that hindered the progress, as they frequently clashed over their respective flawed worldviews while instead of uniting to address shared challenges of the ages.
Medical progress remained sluggish until the Age of Enlightenment dawned in the West, the fall of Constantinople at the hand of the Ottoman sparked another dark period in the history of Christendom of Europe.
Eager to emerge from the shadows of a prolonged Dark Age that had endured for half a millennium, following the demise of the Western Roman Empire—an era marked by the loss of invaluable knowledge amidst its collapse—Europe faced a daunting prospect.
The Eastern Roman Empire, too, had succumbed to the tides of history.
This uncertainty cast a long shadow over Europe, as the fear of yet another dark age loomed large, threatening to obliterate the progress of their civilization at the hands of their perceived heathen adversaries.
Thus was the age of Renaissance where classical knowledge, literature and arts of the Roman period were rediscovered and revitalized by the increasing surge of incoming exiled philosophers and thinkers from the fallen Roman enclave.
During this pre-Enlightenment era, knowledge began to disseminate gradually but steadily among the common populace, ushering in a new epoch in which enlightenment was no longer confined solely to the privileged and the religious elite.
It extended its reach to include even those who were powerless and previously dismissed as ignorant by the established 'authorities'.
By contrast, in the East, unlike the West, the art of medicine enjoyed higher esteem, driven by the endorsement of their respective belief systems, albeit still rooted in superstition, enjoyed prosperous growth.
Its practices spread far and wide in the Far East, abundant and fertile.
"Shall we merely stand idle, bearing witness to the city's fiery descent into death?" John responded to the dissenting priests.
Turning towards his father, Emperor Manuel II, he continued, "Father, if we do not take immediate action, we risk further weakening our empire, and history may repeat its cruel pattern, leading to our downfall, just as it has in the past."
John's commanding voice echoed within the opulent throne room, his deep brown eyes radiating determination. His tone remained unyielding, infused with unwavering conviction.
John harbored only one desire: to prevent the impending tragedy that loomed over the empire, endangering all that he had painstakingly built during his years as co-emperor.
While he did not fear the plague itself, he understood how to manage it. However, if it were to infiltrate the heart of the empire, regret would not be his sole companion; pain would join it.
Constantinople, the city he had painstakingly rebuilt in his second life, would once again face decline, and the Byzantine Empire might lose its proud people once more.
Even in the face of opposition from the church on this matter, John recognized that, as the leader of the empire, it was his responsibility to intervene.
Failing to address this issue effectively could potentially jeopardize his future as the sole ruler of the empire.
"Your Highness, I cannot, in good conscience and in the name of God's love, agree with your approach. Regardless of the impending plague, what you suggest is not a decision that should be made unilaterally, even as the co-emperor. Your rule must still adhere to the law and God's will," solemnly replied the Patriarch.
"I understand that you have the best interests of our empire's people at heart. However, compelling them to close their homes and confine them without proper cause is not how a ruler should exercise authority."
"Disregarding and disrespecting me, the Patriarch of the Holy Church, and His Majesty, the Emperor, your own father. Your claim overstepping your role for mere rum—"
"That is precisely why we are having this discussion, Your Holiness," John interjected, further weighing down the atmosphere in the somber throne room.
"In fact, I am not overstepping my boundaries at this moment. You have refused to listen to my suggestions and explanations, vehemently opposing them."
"My conscience is clear, and what I have witnessed is not mere rumor. I have seen it with my own eyes. You may ask, 'How do you know that these symptoms are indicative of the plague?' I have already provided a detailed account of the symptoms," John concluded, he was annoyed, very annoyed.
Demetrius and Giorgios found themselves rendered speechless, their mouths falling silent in response to the unfolding events.
They lacked the authority and comprehension to grasp the significance of the moment, utterly bewildered by their co-emperor's words.
Despite being physically present in Bizye, they remained uncertain about the veracity of John's claims, leaving them trapped in a state of ignorance.
Consequently, they chose to maintain a stoic silence, their foreheads dampened by perspiration as they confronted not one, but two influential figures within the empire.
One was the Emperor himself, seated regally upon his magnificent throne, while the other was the esteemed Patriarch of Constantinople, currently engaged in a heated dispute with John.
In this tumultuous exchange between the lone co-emperor and the leaders of the church, Demetrius and Giorgios felt like mere ants amidst towering giants.
Awkwardness and confusion gnawed at their core, intensified by the fiery argument unfolding before them, further accentuated by the Emperor's continued silence.
At that moment, the massive doors of the throne room swung open, revealing a figure who appeared utterly distressed. He entered, gasping for breath as he caught sight of the dignitaries within.
With haste, he made his way toward the emperor, first offering respectful bows to both the Patriarch and John.
Then, he knelt before the seated emperor and delivered his urgent message.
"Your Majesty," he began, his voice trembling with urgency,
"A vessel, claiming to be under the command of the Grand Prince of Moskva, has arrived and urgently seeks permission to dock. The captain of the vessel has also specifically requested the presence of His Highness John, at the behest of Princess Anna Vesilyevna."
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lordgsh
lordgsh Hiatus again... Not that I want to, I have a lot of homeworks...hicc
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