FORTY-TWO
Sapor trampled upon the pact and laid hands on Armenia 1
The wind blowing from Mount Ararat had a bitter edge. In the darkness, huddled beneath his cloak in a narrow gorge on the boundary between Roman and Persian Armenia, Julian shivered, and blew on cold-stiffened fingers. For at least the hundredth time since setting out from Antioch, he cursed the day he had accepted the lonely and dangerous commission on which he was now engaged. Of course, as a serving officer in the East Roman army, and from a family (connected to the distinguished soldier and historian Ammianus Marcellinus) with a long and distinguished military tradition to uphold, refusal had been virtually impossible. His mind drifted back twenty days to that fateful meeting with Aspar, East Rome’s most powerful general, and the man behind the elevation to the purple of the present Emperor, Marcian.
It was with excitement mingled with trepidation that Julian presented himself at the commander’s house in Antioch, the second city of the Eastern Empire. Antiochan born and bred (like his illustrious forebear Ammianus), Julian thought the city justly deserving of its titles ‘Antioch the Beautiful’ and ‘the Jewel of the East’. Ushered by a
‘Welcome, young Julian,’ said Aspar with a smile. ‘I see you’ve recovered from that Hun arrow you stopped at the Utus. Nasty things, arrow wounds. Prone to infection unless they’re treated straight away. Now, I expect you’re wondering why you’ve been summoned from your unit at short notice. It concerns a spying mission in Armenia. I’m looking for someone young and fit, a good horseman with a proven military record. Oh, and preferably a bachelor. As a decorated tribune,
‘I’m flattered, sir,’ replied Julian, feeling his pulse quicken. ‘But. . surely there must be plenty of other officers as well as, or better qualified than, myself for whatever job you have in mind.’
‘Don’t sell yourself short, young man,’ said Aspar briskly. ‘I’m seldom wrong in my assessments. The qualities I’ve listed are not as common as you seem to think. At least not in the same person.’
‘You said, sir, a bachelor would be preferred,’ observed Julian, adding, with just a touch of asperity, ‘I take it, then, the mission’s dangerous.’
‘There is some risk; I won’t deny it,’ said Aspar. ‘But before you decide whether or not to accept the commission — and you have an entirely free choice in the matter — let me tell you what’s involved.’ Telling a slave to bring wine, he conducted Julian to a stone bench overlooking the valley of the Orontes, studded with vineyards and fruit trees, with the rugged spire of Mount Casius towering in the distance.
‘What do you know about Armenia?’ asked the general, pouring wine.
‘Not a great deal sir,’ confessed Julian. ‘Isn’t it a mountainous plateau between the Pontus Euxinus and the Mare Caspium, populated by tough individualists? I seem to remember it used to be an independent kingdom, until its partition into separate zones of influence between Rome and Persia, about sixty years ago.’
‘A fair summary,’ conceded Aspar, ‘and correct as far as it goes. It’s important also to bear in mind that the people have been Christian from at least the time of Constantine’s conversion. The place has always been a cockpit between the great warring powers of East and West, even before the days of Darius and Alexander. Neutral zone or disputed territory? Take your pick. The present Great King of Persia, Yazdkart II, is, according to our contacts in the region, about to embark on an aggressive military venture. He apparently intends to invade eastern Armenia — the Persian zone — impose direct rule from Ctesiphon, and replace Christianity with Zoroastrianism, the official religion of Persia.’
‘And the reason?’
‘Oh, the usual thing — boosting his reputation by military conquest. Rome herself can give plenty of examples: Julius Caesar in Gaul, Claudius I in Britain, Trajan in Dacia, Septimius Severus in Caledonia; I could go on. If Yazdkart succeeds, that may well encourage him to try to extend his rule over West — Roman — Armenia. Which of course would constitute both a challenge and a military threat to the Eastern Empire. But he’s made one big miscalculation which could prove to be his Achilles’ heel.’
‘And that is, sir?’
‘Forcing the Armenians to accept the Zoroastrian religion. They’re a proud, stubborn, independent lot, who’ll resist tooth and nail any attempt to convert them from Christianity.’
‘Especially if they get Roman help?’ suggested Julian innocently. ‘Unofficially, of course.’
‘Quite,’ confirmed Aspar with a smile. ‘Unofficially. We mustn’t be seen to be breaking the Treaty of Partition. Already, one Vardan Mamikanian is rallying the nobles in East Armenia to head a national resistance movement against the Great King. From our point of view, for Persia to get bogged down in a war of attrition, in difficult terrain, against a fanatical irregular army, would be highly desirable. Any ambitions Yazdkart may be harbouring to renew the age-old conflict between Rome and Persia, would then have to be shelved. Indefinitely. With Attila undecided as to which of the two Roman Empires to attack next, that can only be a good thing. There’s just one problem.’
Julian looked dutifully expectant.
‘The Tome of Leo.’
‘The Tome of Leo?’
‘It’s all rather complicated,’ said Aspar, refilling their goblets. ‘I’ll do my best to explain. Pope Leo in Rome has produced a treatise propounding the dual nature of Christ. Claiming, in fact, that He is both human and divine — a view the Western Empire apparently has no problem in accepting. Here in the East, it’s quite a different matter. Most citizens believe, passionately, that Christ has only one, divine, nature, called monophysite.’
‘Sir, I don’t quite see-’
‘Bear with me, young Julian,’ interrupted Aspar with a smile. ‘To prevent a damaging schism splitting religious opinion throughout the Roman world and further widening the growing rift between our two empires, plans are afoot to thrash out the merits of both points of view in a grand meeting of ecclesiastics, to be held most likely at Nicaea or Chalcedon. Probably the latter, as a mark of courtesy to Marcian, as it’s just across the Bosporus from the capital. Its purpose will be to decide which is the correct position, monophysite or dual nature. The decision will have the force of dogma, to be accepted by Christians everywhere, on pain of excommunication. Unfortunately for the East — and in particular for the monophysite patriarch of Alexandria — the signs are that Leo’s argument will prevail, as it has the support of our new Emperor. What on earth has all this to do with Armenia? you must be wondering. Well, the people are conservative, profoundly monophysite in their religious outlook. The chances of our forming a secret alliance with them might be put in jeopardy if the Eastern Empire were to abandon its present monophysite stance.’ Aspar shrugged and spread his hands.
Julian stared at him in disbelief. ‘It’s absurd!’ he exclaimed, stifling a disgraceful urge to laugh.
‘Don’t be heard saying that,’ cautioned the general. ‘Your family’s pagan, isn’t it?’
‘Yes. We’re among the few who still adhere to the old Gods. Naturally, we try not to draw attention to the fact.’
‘Which means you can take an objective view,’ murmured Aspar reflectively. ‘As can I. Being an Arian, I’m able to view things from a perspective outwith the orthodox norm.’ He shook his head. ‘Things were so much less. . extreme, even in Valentinian I’s time. Whatever happened to good old Roman tolerance? But I digress. If a Romano-Armenian alliance is to be forged, it must happen
