Paris who was busy bringing his army up to the greatest strength he could attain against the day when some of the others might move against him in the next act of the grim drama for control of the Roman world. Meanwhile, he prepared to make a move of his own which he had been contemplating on the journey through prosperous and wealthy Gaul. He voiced his decision at one of the almost daily conferences of state.
“I am sending you to Italy,” he told Dacius. “A military galley will take you from Lugdunum to Neapolis.”
“For what purpose?”
“To bring back my betrothed, the Lady Fausta.”
“Are you going to demand her of Maximian?” Eumenius asked.
“I suppose it amounts to that.”
“I know you are eager to claim your bride,” Dacius said. “But is this the time?”
“Maximian went to Salonae hoping to resume the purple of an Augustus, but he failed and Severus was given it instead,” Constantine reminded him. “Maximian cannot turn to the East, so he is certain to look to the West to support his ambition. What could give him greater hope than to have me as his soninlaw?”
“What about Maxentius?”
Promised the Praetorians
“My spies tell me he has promised the Praetorians to return their old glory, if they support him when he tries to seize power from Severus. Naturally he would welcome the knowledge that I would not interfere.”
“What will you do, if Maximian lets Lady Fausta marry you and then demands your support against Severus?” Eumenius asked.
“What any sensible man would do let them both weaken themselves by fighting each other, then move in to restore stability.”
“With yourself as Augustus of the West?”
“Why not if there is no strong power in Italy?”
“For that the army of Gaul must be stronger than any two the others can bring against us, which means more taxes,” Eumenius warned.
“And more trouble,” Dacius said bluntly. “Don’t forget the bagau dae.”
“I’ve been thinking about them,” Constantine said. “They rebelled because they were oppressed by the great landowners. But if I force those who own much land to share with the serfs, those who now pay no taxes will be able to pay from the sale of what they produce.”
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