Imperial Sabbatical

It can happen that even the most diligent of rulers might occasionally seek to escape the burden of office ... or birth.

A sojourn, a partial retirement or just a sabbatical, everyone needs a holiday as they say.

Famously, my great ancestor the Emperor Tiberius took himself away from Rome to his favoured isle of Capri for some considerable time: only to resume his rule after several licentious years, when he was all but obliged to do so.

[Mediterranean flowers in the Balearic's - October 2017]

In the Yeats that followed, other great Emperors absconded from the pressures of the capital, spending protracted periods abroad, on travels, on campaign and in private living. To rule is to suffer and every ruler needs to recharge now and again. 

Conflict on the Streets of York

[Amazonian fighting in the streets: All over some bloke called Morris ...?!?]

Violent scenes of conflict on the streets of York left the Emperor reminiscing about troubled histories from his own ancient past:


''And now civil discord broke out again worse than ever and increased enormously. Massacres, banishments, and proscriptions of both senators and knights took place straightway, including great numbers of both classes, the chiefs of factions surrendering their enemies to each other, and for this purpose not sparing even their friends and brothers; so much did animosity toward rivals overpower the love of kindred.''

[Appian, Civil Wars, I.5]

Mull-ing Things Over in Tobermory

In May this year the Emperor undertook a short non-punitive campaign to the Scottish Isle of Mull.

[Tobermory Bay - during a brief respite from the heavy summer rains]  

Travels in good company were enjoyed by the Imperial retinue and sat well with the Emperor. 

Lucca

The massive and exquisitely complete renaissance walls of Lucca (Italy) provide a beautifully impressive backdrop to any walk around this Tuscan jewel. (Only Ferrara in the east can rival an ancient defensive circuit of this period - larger but not as complete in its surviving heritage)

 
A long-term favourite with the emperor (my 5th visit and counting), Lucca will always be the dream place for an idyllic and imagined retirement.

Guarded by emblematic lions, this ancient, sleepy old Republic, offers a true haven of great charm. Both in and out of season it has so much history and beauty to offer.

The Luchesse skyline: ancient, rustic, grand and chaotic. 

Now Where Did I Leave My Bike?

[You need a good memory to find your bike in the local bike park - Ghent, Belgium, Jan 2012]