The procession having circled the arena, Constantine dismounted and ascended to the first tier of seats where a massive throne chair stood in the imperial box. Empress Theodora and the three oldest of her children were already there, as were the nobles of the court. Constantine did not immediately take his seat, however, but remained standing beside the throne, waiting for the cheering of the thousands to subside.
“People of Gaul,” he addressed them, when the Circus was finally quiet. “You have heard of my father’s death in Britain, but you do not know that he was ill for some time before his departure.
In fact he risked the hazardous journey across the sea and endured the rigors of a winter in Britain against the advice of his physicians because, if that land is kept secure and free, Gaul itself will never again be threatened from across the Fretum Gallicum, as it was in the time of the rebel Carausius.”
A roar of applause forced him to stop for a moment.
“My father died in the service of the Empire,” he continued. “And I, his designated deputy, will not hesitate to give my life in the same service.” Few could doubt that he was making a personal claim to his father’s throne, though not spoken in so many words. The crowd took it as such and raised a tremendous shout of approval.
Augustus Constantine
“Long live Augustus Constantine!” Crocus led the cheering and the people took up the cry, shouting and throwing hats, the small wineskins sold as refreshment in the amphitheater, and whatever else was loose into the air. During the resulting din, Constantine glanced at Eumenius, who was sitting behind him in the royal box, and saw by the pleased smile on the face of the magister memoriae that all was going just as planned. When the shouting began to subside, he once more raised his hand for silence.
“I thank you for honoring me,” he said. “I pledge you that my rule shall be just and fair and that I shall do everything I can to protect you from your enemies and insure that no man shall go hungry for lack of work with which to earn his bread.
“But let no man think he can break faith with the authority of Rome and go unpunished.” He looked down at the wagons where the Germanic kings were standing. “These onetime kings made a solemn treaty not long ago with my father, promising to respect our borders, as we promised to respect theirs. Yet no sooner had he left the country on business connected with the welfare of the Empire than they broke their vows and began to pillage and rape. Do such men deserve mercy?”
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