4. Bari’s Turning
It was January the 4th, and Adaneus made a sermon to the city of Bari, while distributing food supplies.
“Magec is a humble god. He gave me this power — and with it, we will take the world.” The Siege of Bari is a mere stepping stone to greatness. Pope Alexander, Emperor Romanos, the Seljuks, no power will be able to resist us. This is only the beginning! A humble beginning, but a beginning nonetheless!”
His power had grown to at least 1500 followers, still only 15%, but included nearly half the army. Andreas made desperate pleas to ignore the rabble rouser, but with each hour the food and water flowed more people converted. Still many consumed the resources and maintained their Christian faith, the idea of apostasy was too great of a sin, the idea that this was some demonic force was too great for many. Norman spies got the word out about the Pagan force inside the city, and the Normans were in consternation. Guiscard had no idea what to make of the situation, but the fact that the soldiers seemed to be festive on the walls had Guiscard greatly confused and Guiscard’s troops hissing at him.
“What the fuck is going on?” One soldier said, “we crush them, we starve them, and they look like they’re having a right good old time.”
A spy whispered something in Guiscard’s ear and he turned to the spy and looked at him perplexed.
“Pagan?” Guiscard said, he put his hands in the air and to the sides, in abject confusion.
They still sat there trying to starve the city out.
In the city the locals rejoiced at the food distribution, from what Adaneus could see the Lombard and Greek garrison had converted to his religion, openly praising the sun and raising their weapons in adulation at it. Although Andreas was supposed to make a pro Orthodox mob come for Adaneus, the army dispersed it quickly, shouting down the mob, the mob itself accepting the bribes of free food. There were some injured, but thankfully no dead. Norman spies noted the changing religious demography with worry. Some Latin priests derided the new religion with the usual words of condemnation but the neutrals didn’t seem to to be heeding much notice. No soldiers came to arrest and the mobs were quiet once again.
January 5th there was a quiet lull once again, food and water was distributed and the city grew in strength, Adaneus made no speeches, he simply let the distribution speak for itself. The quiet was eery, but he had people lining up not for food, but for lectures.
Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
“Magec, Helios,” a man said, grabbing a stabbing sword, inspecting it from many angles, “the religion is definitely growing.”
“Glowing,” Kwame joked.
“Quite,” the man said, he stepped forward, “when will you do it?”
“Do what?” Adaneus whispered confused.
The man looked at the garrison and the governor’s palace, his eyes glinting more than the blade, humming at the same frequency.
“A dangerous thing you propose,” Kwame said, tutting.
“We need more of the city on our side first, I will not be accepted by the Emperor in the East, or by the powers of the west. I must be independent,” Adaneus said
“The soldiers are all behind you already, they are just waiting for you to act,” the man said.
“That’s good, but the people could be a problem if they rebel. I know the city has Norman spies, they tried to murder me.”
“They murdered a noble not that long ago, Bisantius lay in his own blood because he wanted to resist.”
Beyond that conversation, the day was uneventful.
January 6th Adaneus had 1000 new followers in a single day. The food was real, the water was real, he now had 25% of the city on his side. Many of whom armed and ready to solidify his stake on the city. The Catholics had been reduced to 20%, the Orthodox from 70% to 55%, despite being outnumbered the momentum was on the Pagans side. This time Adaneus gave a speech, his supporters lifting spears, swords and some even armed with crossbows.
“We will crush the Normans and begin a new era soon enough, this city will not be blockaded, it will be the mightiest in the Adriatic,” he paused having discussed politics only to move to religion, “Christianity is a farce, I’m sorry to say, Jesus commanded you to follow the law, ‘I have come to fulfil the law not abolish it,’ and yet none of the Christians fulfil it, there are questions as to how divine christ even is, and there are as many sects as there are Norman ships blockading this great port. ‘Sodomy and homosexuality is illegal because of the old testament’ of course you say, and yet you eat pork and mix fabrics. You cannot agree what kind of bread you should consume, but the Pagans are devils. It seems to me the Christians are confused. Was it not the case that your forefathers worshipped many gods but were then forbidden to by Theodosius and Justinian. Your first Christian dynasty, sons of Constantine himself, those very children murdered each other. Julian the apostate made a book so damning, all the copies have been destroyed save the quotes of Christian writers quoting it. And you tell me ‘well Christianity is true,’ I notice the four gospels contradict each other. If it wasn’t bad enough that you don’t know which parts of the old to follow, the new doesn’t even agree with itself! By Magec, Helios as it is known here, if you are punished for uttering these words then let us take over the city. Enough!”
There were some cheers and jeers, but mostly shock, for no one would dare utter such words for pain of death, but now Adaneus had said it aloud to much consternation.
“Do not think I have no criticisms of the saracens and their ilk, they worship an extortionist who likewise killed his opposition in his land. From here in Bari, we will launch an empire! You will have freedom in your religion, but know that it is wrong. Magec, Helios will shine its divine light and under this sign we will conquer!”
A golden lightning bolt on a green banner was unfurled much for the fanfare of the citizens. There was no biding time now.
