August in Paris

This Summer the Emperor spent the campaigning season in the wonderful city of Paris.

The Emperor was in his element, taking in the many wonders that the city is so famous for.

[Night time on the Seine River]

Despiste their chilly reputation towards tourists, the Emperor did not find the Parisians to be at all Gauling [forgive the pun].

[The famous Hall of Mirrors, Versailles]

The Emperor would certianly recommend a visit to this stylish cultural city and although Summer periods can get very busy with fellow tourists this did not cause too many problems for the Imperial retinue.   

 

[Under the Arc De Triomphe]

  

This short holiday was most rewarding and the Emperor fully intends to re-visit and see the many sites that he did not have time to see. 



[The iconic Eiffel Tower, dominating the city sky line]

 

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Great, great .... uncle Julius famously spent a few campaigning seasons in Gaul.

 

Whilst making himself almost entirely unpopular, its fair to say that he didn't really have a good word to say about the locals:

 

"The unstable character of the Gauls made [Caesar] anxious - for they are easily induced to form new plans and generally welcome political change - and he thought it better to place no reliance on them. It is a custom of theirs to stop travellers, even against their will, and to question them about what they have heard by chance or by enquiry on this or that subject; and in the towns a crowd will gather round traders and demand to know what country they have come from and what they have learnt there. Such hearsay reports often induce them to make momentous decisions, which they are bound to repent immediately afterwards, since they credulously swallow unconfirmed rumours, and most of their informants invent such answers as they think will please them."

 

[Caesar, Commentaries, IV.5]

War Games & The Politics Of Seating

[British Soldiers filling politically embarrassing gaps in Olympic Seating - London 2012]

See: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/29/olympics-empty-seats-locog-army

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Yet not every regime in history has wanted its soldiers to enjoy the games:

"For at an exhibition of games, when he [Augustus] had given orders that a common soldier who was sitting in the fourteen rows be put out by an attendant, the report was spread by his detractors that he had had the man killed later and tortured as well; whereupon he all but lost his life in a furious mob of soldiers, owing his escape to the sudden appearance of the missing man safe and sound."*

[Suetonius, Life of Augustus, 14]

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*In the settlement following the Civil Wars, the Emperor Augustus sought to re-establish and regulate the traditional and rigid hierarchy of state.  The first 14 rows of all theatres, amphitheatres and circuses were thus reserved under law for Senators and Knights only.  Of course, we might also speculate that the new ruler might seek to quash all bonds of clientship between the army and the wider social elite. Better empty spaces, than soldiers mixing or being given 'corporate entertainment' from Senators and Knights!  

For those About to Merchandise ... We Salute You!

This Summer the Emperor was fortunate to attend the great and ancient Olympic games hosted by the city of Londinium ....

 

 

A seat close to the mighty Olympic flame was an added enjoyment. A great time was had by the imperial court, although the Emperor could not fail to note a distinct lack of bloodshed. Still, "When in London ..." as they saying goes.