Crusade against the Pope

Chapter 373 All the peoples are like a drop in a bucket, and are counted as dust on the scales

The double-headed eagle flag was indeed widely regarded as a symbol of the Byzantine Empire in later generations.

But the double-headed eagle was not original to the Romans, but originated from an earlier ancient Near Eastern culture.

The Hittites and Assyrians also used the double-headed eagle as a symbolic pattern. The two heads of the double-headed eagle look east and west respectively, symbolizing the imperial authority that governs the east and the west.

In fact, it was not until the middle of the Byzantine period, around the 11th century, that the double-headed eagle pattern began to slowly appear in royal emblems, noble seals or architectural decorations.

To be precise, it refers specifically to the Komnenos dynasty.

But Byzantium did not use the double-headed eagle as an "official flag" or standard emblem.

Therefore, when Gellis asked how long the double-headed eagle flag could fly, he was referring to the Eastern Empire and, in a sense, the Komnenos family.

"Perhaps, you will think that taking Trebizond is just the beginning. Then we can take Constantinople and rule the Balkans and Nicaea..."

“But can this change the current situation?”

"The Turks occupied the heart of Asia Minor, Bulgaria plotted against Thrace, and the Venetians controlled many Aegean islands and ports..."

"Even if you really solve these, what will happen?"

"The Kipchaks and Cumans are entrenched on the steppes, Khwarezm is to the east, the Egyptian Crusaders are across the sea to the south, and Hungary and Serbia are to the west..."

"Since when has the Eastern Empire always been surrounded by wolves?"

"Not to mention, right now, a flood is brewing in the Sea of ​​Grass, swearing to destroy all the nations on this earth..."

No empire lasts forever.

From a geopolitical perspective, the Eastern Roman Empire was in a very bad situation even at its peak, as it had enemies to deal with in every direction.

Not to mention that the Eastern Roman Empire is now in decline and is even more difficult to deal with the surrounding situation.

This is completely different from the situation in China.

The empire has to face the threat of external war at all times.

In order to deal with foreign enemies, it is necessary to strengthen local forces so that local troops can deal with scattered crises in a timely and effective manner.

After the empire divided its military power, it inevitably fell into the dilemma of central-local contradictions...

Historically, even though the Empire of Nicaea, or the Palaiologos family, successfully recaptured Constantinople, it did not have the power to expand, but instead entered another period of decline.

Alexius was educated after all, so he understood what Gellis meant.

If he wants to rebuild the country, he will definitely need enough strength and a good diplomatic environment with the surrounding areas.

So Alexios answered directly: "There is also Georgia, which can be considered an ally."

Gillis let out a hint of sarcasm.

The present era is Georgia's golden age.

Under Queen Tamara, there were perhaps as many as three million of them.

It is enough to make him the dominant force.

In Alexius' eyes, Georgia might be even more invincible. After all, Georgia had won wars with almost all the surrounding countries and made many small countries its vassal states.

But Gaillis knew that there was no golden age that would never end. When a country reached its peak, it was actually only a thin line away from decline.

To be precise, just 20 years later, the once powerful Georgia will meet its own mourners - the Mongols.

Just like Byzantium, the Kingdom of Georgia was also in a situation where it was surrounded by wolves and had to deal with endless wars.

Especially after the Battle of Manzikert, when a large number of Turks poured into Anatolia, there were no more Orthodox countries around Georgia that could provide strong support.

Georgia, like the Kingdom of Jerusalem before it, is using its own national strength to fight against the massive Muslim forces around it.

This means that Georgia finds it difficult to expand its base, and the ceiling of its national strength is stuck here.

Queen Tamara, now complacent, may never have imagined that she would face an invasion of an empire unprecedented in human history.

As far as Gellis knows, the Georgians' encounter with the Mongols occurred during the Mongol conquest of Khwarezm.

At that time, Subutai and Jebe led about 2 Mongols to pursue the Khwarezmian Shah Muhammad II to the Caspian Sea. Under the order of Genghis Khan, the two of them headed west to carry out reconnaissance missions and advanced into Armenia.

They were blocked in Armenia by King George IV of Georgia, son of Tamara and David Soslan.

In this battle, George IV was seriously injured and was naturally defeated.

But this was just the beginning. In January of the following year, the Mongols attacked again. Jebe and Subutai, as a vanguard force, once again easily defeated the Georgian Kingdom.

When the third Mongol invasion came, Georgia faced the "war of annihilation".

"I have prophesied to the Muslims that a man will rise in the East, commanding an army of thousands of miles, and he will sweep away all the countries along the way..."

"But what I didn't tell them was that it wasn't just the Muslim dynasties, but in fact, Georgia was among them."

"The prophet Isaiah cried out in the wilderness: 'The nations are but a drop from the bucket, dust falling from the balance.'"

“Today, Georgia is like the land of the rising sun, sitting on the mountains, its light shining on all nations”

"But I saw a dark cloud coming from the east, with riders countless in number, flying like locusts, without the sound of a trumpet, crushing the host."

"They will crush the Armenian hills and raise a tide of blood and ashes."

"The George you know will also be here."

"Georgia! You alone stand against all enemies,
"Like Rome of old, it too will return to dust when that day comes."

"The crown of glory has been shaken. No salvation is found apart from the sword. For it is written: 'Everyone who is exalted must be humbled.'"

Gillis's voice was infectious, and as he pointed out Georgia's insecurity, he made a prophetic statement.

To Alexius, this might be true or false, but it was still a bit frightening.

Alexios decided to take back the initiative: "So, Mr. Gillis, what do you want to say by saying this?"

"I want to tell you that the prophecy is not unchangeable. In order to deal with everything, not just the Latins, not just the grasslands, but all the fates of the future, I need you to complete your mission..."

"I need you to establish a new country here, not a repetition of the old, corrupt Rome. Otherwise..."

"What if? You are threatening me."

Komnenos was extremely angry.

(End of this chapter)