Probably the fault of too many of my rebellious ancestors running about and mucking things up, especially in the northern reaches of the HRE.
-
Sign up or login, and you'll have full access to opportunities of forum.
Minnesota Moore and the Emperors' Treasure
- Thread starter Praefectus Praetorio
- Start date
Probably the fault of too many of my rebellious ancestors running about and mucking things up, especially in the northern reaches of the HRE.
messaline
Crucified Amazon
All that is good , perhaps a little "indigeste" ? ... ... in waiting, Messa decided to play the tourist and she was visiting this Shaeffer Vineyards ...
Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
Looks very tasty!View attachment 710527 All that is good , perhaps a little "indigeste" ? ...
... in waiting, Messa decided to play the tourist and she was visiting this Shaeffer Vineyards ...
View attachment 710532
... in waiting, Messa decided to play the tourist and she was visiting this Shaeffer Vineyards ...
After which Schaefer Vineyards reported a one hundred percent increase in Riesling sales, and demand for Messa’s premium French crucifixion wood surged as well.
Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
Editor's note. At the back of the print edition of the book is a list of main characters. However, the characters are about to multiply and the e-reader cannot skip ahead to the end of a serialized book. Therefore, the list is given here as reference.
Dramatis Personae
Historical (ages, unless otherwise noted are as of the Third Crusade 1189 CE)
Roman Emperor Diocletian, 60 at retirement in 305 CE, Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus Augustus, born Diocles (22 December 244 – 3 December 311)
Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick I, Barbarossa, 67, 1122 - 10 June 1190. Duke of Swabia (1147–1152, as Frederick III), Holy Roman Emperor from 2 January 1155 until his death, also King of Germany, King of Italy, and King of Burgundy. He was the son of Duke Frederick II of the Hohenstaufen dynasty and Judith, daughter of Henry IX, Duke of Bavaria, from the rival House of Welf.
Victorinus, 60, Barbarossa’s antiquity advisor. Born into a poor family of goatherders in the hill country of Swabia, his mental gifts came to the attention of the monks in the nearby Augustinian Abbey. At the age of 7 he moved to the abbey to learn. By age 9, he was fluent in Latin and Greek. At age 18, the new 26-year-old Duke of Swabia, Frederick III attached the boy to his court as an advisor and translator. Victorinus never left his side from then until the King’s death 38 years later.
Heinrich der Löwe, Henry the Lion, 60, 1129 – 1195. Duke of Saxony, Duke of Bavaria, Welf, Enemy for which Barbarossa exiled him twice and took most of his lands. But he outlived the Emperor.
Isaac II Angelos, 32, Byzantine Emperor 1185-1195 and 1203-1204
Brother Nickolas, 31. At the time of the crusade, he was living his life dedicated to God in a monastery in Croatia
The Moore Team
Dr. Barbara Moore, 35, Williams’ Professor of Medieval History at Minnesota University
Messaline C, 23, Linguist fluent in most European Languages Double PhD candidate in Medieval History and Modern Language
Henry R, 27, Technology like ground penetrating radar, big guy from Ohio. Played football for University of Wisconsin, PhD candidate in early Modern European History.
David P, 26, expert in Latin and Greek. PhD candidate in Middle Roman Empire
Susan H, 29, best researcher Barb has ever known. PhD candidate in Modern European History
Attendant Lords
Geoffrey Chaucer, KBE, 71, Head Librarian at the Bodleian in Oxford. He sits on the Board of Research Libraries UK and of the Consortium of European Research Libraries. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and was elected to the American Philosophical Society. Geoffrey holds a Professorial Fellowship at Balliol College, Oxford. Photographic memory, contacts in research throughout the world. Excellent at puzzles and analysis.
Dr. Claus Windar, 52, Dean of Humanities at Minnesota University and a fellow of the American Association of University Administrators.
Harold Antonio, 40, Wealthy from some kind of finance. Family originally Italian (and Croatian). Major funder of the expedition.
Dr. Hans Shaeffer, 45, the Geschäftsführer (managing director) of the Historisches Museum Frankfurt. He came from an old family descended from the Pfalzgrafen (Count of Palatine). His brothers ran an award-winning vineyard and winery in the Palatinate wine region.
Dr. Giovanna Giubbini, 81, Direttore Anziano of the Archivio di Stato di Venezia.
Giuseppe Martino, 53, Governatore, la Provincia di Ravenna
Dr. Andrija Novak, 41, Direktor, Hrvatsko Arheološko Društvo
Nina Obuljen Koržinek, 48, the Ministarstvo culture, (Minister of Culture) of the Croatian government
Boris Vujčić, 54, Governor of the Hrvatska Narodna Banka (Croatian Central Bank)
Dramatis Personae
Historical (ages, unless otherwise noted are as of the Third Crusade 1189 CE)
Roman Emperor Diocletian, 60 at retirement in 305 CE, Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus Augustus, born Diocles (22 December 244 – 3 December 311)
Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick I, Barbarossa, 67, 1122 - 10 June 1190. Duke of Swabia (1147–1152, as Frederick III), Holy Roman Emperor from 2 January 1155 until his death, also King of Germany, King of Italy, and King of Burgundy. He was the son of Duke Frederick II of the Hohenstaufen dynasty and Judith, daughter of Henry IX, Duke of Bavaria, from the rival House of Welf.
Victorinus, 60, Barbarossa’s antiquity advisor. Born into a poor family of goatherders in the hill country of Swabia, his mental gifts came to the attention of the monks in the nearby Augustinian Abbey. At the age of 7 he moved to the abbey to learn. By age 9, he was fluent in Latin and Greek. At age 18, the new 26-year-old Duke of Swabia, Frederick III attached the boy to his court as an advisor and translator. Victorinus never left his side from then until the King’s death 38 years later.
Heinrich der Löwe, Henry the Lion, 60, 1129 – 1195. Duke of Saxony, Duke of Bavaria, Welf, Enemy for which Barbarossa exiled him twice and took most of his lands. But he outlived the Emperor.
Isaac II Angelos, 32, Byzantine Emperor 1185-1195 and 1203-1204
Brother Nickolas, 31. At the time of the crusade, he was living his life dedicated to God in a monastery in Croatia
The Moore Team
Dr. Barbara Moore, 35, Williams’ Professor of Medieval History at Minnesota University
Messaline C, 23, Linguist fluent in most European Languages Double PhD candidate in Medieval History and Modern Language
Henry R, 27, Technology like ground penetrating radar, big guy from Ohio. Played football for University of Wisconsin, PhD candidate in early Modern European History.
David P, 26, expert in Latin and Greek. PhD candidate in Middle Roman Empire
Susan H, 29, best researcher Barb has ever known. PhD candidate in Modern European History
Attendant Lords
Geoffrey Chaucer, KBE, 71, Head Librarian at the Bodleian in Oxford. He sits on the Board of Research Libraries UK and of the Consortium of European Research Libraries. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and was elected to the American Philosophical Society. Geoffrey holds a Professorial Fellowship at Balliol College, Oxford. Photographic memory, contacts in research throughout the world. Excellent at puzzles and analysis.
Dr. Claus Windar, 52, Dean of Humanities at Minnesota University and a fellow of the American Association of University Administrators.
Harold Antonio, 40, Wealthy from some kind of finance. Family originally Italian (and Croatian). Major funder of the expedition.
Dr. Hans Shaeffer, 45, the Geschäftsführer (managing director) of the Historisches Museum Frankfurt. He came from an old family descended from the Pfalzgrafen (Count of Palatine). His brothers ran an award-winning vineyard and winery in the Palatinate wine region.
Dr. Giovanna Giubbini, 81, Direttore Anziano of the Archivio di Stato di Venezia.
Giuseppe Martino, 53, Governatore, la Provincia di Ravenna
Dr. Andrija Novak, 41, Direktor, Hrvatsko Arheološko Društvo
Nina Obuljen Koržinek, 48, the Ministarstvo culture, (Minister of Culture) of the Croatian government
Boris Vujčić, 54, Governor of the Hrvatska Narodna Banka (Croatian Central Bank)
This is getting busy...
Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
You always say that (and its always true). If you tried reading something more meaty that Seagrams labels, you would learn to appreciate this busy!
Oh, the Seagram's labels have much to read, mostly dull and in fine print... Tree prefers to look at pictures...
Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
Chapter 13 April 12, 2018
Minneapolis, Minnesota, the office of Claus Windar, Dean of Humanities at Minnesota University.
Dean Windar was reviewing the budget for Dr. Moore’s new project. It was an obscene amount of money, but he had no doubt that it would be worth it.
Claus did doubt that Barbara understood her value to the University. She was too wrapped up in her work and in rising in her field to see the bigger picture. A thirty-five-year old superstar woman academic who was also drop-dead gorgeous (not to mention, drop-dead sexy!) was a gift from heaven to his division of the University. He had to fight off the magazines (and not just academic publications – the supermarket mags knew about Dr. Moore, the History Pinup!) and their requests for interviews.
Claus congratulated himself on managing her public relations so well without any conscious cooperation from the young lady herself. Although, he thought ruefully, her publicity was easier to manage than her spending habits. Between her insistence on the best in what she did and her absolute disinterest in numbers and money, Barbara was congenitally incapable of staying within a budget. In the last few years, Windar had taken to telling her that her budget was 10% less than it really was. She still managed to overspend. For the Balkan project he had told her an amount 20% under. ‘That probably won’t be enough to keep her in budget,’ he thought with a sigh.
Truth be told, Windar had a deep affection for Barb and it wasn’t purely Platonic. He would cycle between wanting to protect her like a daughter (she was almost twenty years younger) and wanting to get a hold of her tight little for some badly needed correction!
But seriously, he thought, this new discovery of the manuscript would be a godsend for his Fall fundraising campaign. And if she discovered the actual treasure…it was hard to image the prestige it would bring her and the University… and him!
Just at that moment, his secretary buzzed the intercom. “Harold Antonio is here to see you, Dean Windar.” “Thanks, Joan, Send him right in.” Perfect!
Harold Antonio was in his early forties, tall and fit and rather good looking. Dark, with a thick head of curly brown hair and a still boyish look of enthusiasm, most people liked him at first sight. He handled some kind of investments or hedge funds or international trade. It was all a foreign language for an academic administrator like Claus, and Harold waived off any request to explain his work in detail with a dismissive, “You would be bored to tears! I refuse to let our friendship be spoiled by you finding out what dull work I do to earn my daily bread.”
But earn his daily bread he must be doing. His anonymous contribution put the fundraising for Dr. Moore’s new endowed chair over the top with a great deal of room to spare. And just a day ago, he had pledged over half the total for her new project.
Windar did know that Harold’s family was from Italy and he had extensive European ties. Often, his calls would be from Frankfort or Turin or Vienna. He spoke of interests in Spain and the Balkans. He not only was more familiar with history than most laymen, but he had almost an expert knowledge of ancient objets d'art. Windar could only imagine what his private collection looked like.
Harold had expressed previously a fascination for Medieval European history hunting and jumped at the idea of the Emperors’ Treasure. He had asked to have a meeting with Windar to learn more about what Barbara had found.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, the office of Claus Windar, Dean of Humanities at Minnesota University.
Dean Windar was reviewing the budget for Dr. Moore’s new project. It was an obscene amount of money, but he had no doubt that it would be worth it.
Claus did doubt that Barbara understood her value to the University. She was too wrapped up in her work and in rising in her field to see the bigger picture. A thirty-five-year old superstar woman academic who was also drop-dead gorgeous (not to mention, drop-dead sexy!) was a gift from heaven to his division of the University. He had to fight off the magazines (and not just academic publications – the supermarket mags knew about Dr. Moore, the History Pinup!) and their requests for interviews.
Claus congratulated himself on managing her public relations so well without any conscious cooperation from the young lady herself. Although, he thought ruefully, her publicity was easier to manage than her spending habits. Between her insistence on the best in what she did and her absolute disinterest in numbers and money, Barbara was congenitally incapable of staying within a budget. In the last few years, Windar had taken to telling her that her budget was 10% less than it really was. She still managed to overspend. For the Balkan project he had told her an amount 20% under. ‘That probably won’t be enough to keep her in budget,’ he thought with a sigh.
Truth be told, Windar had a deep affection for Barb and it wasn’t purely Platonic. He would cycle between wanting to protect her like a daughter (she was almost twenty years younger) and wanting to get a hold of her tight little for some badly needed correction!
But seriously, he thought, this new discovery of the manuscript would be a godsend for his Fall fundraising campaign. And if she discovered the actual treasure…it was hard to image the prestige it would bring her and the University… and him!
Just at that moment, his secretary buzzed the intercom. “Harold Antonio is here to see you, Dean Windar.” “Thanks, Joan, Send him right in.” Perfect!
Harold Antonio was in his early forties, tall and fit and rather good looking. Dark, with a thick head of curly brown hair and a still boyish look of enthusiasm, most people liked him at first sight. He handled some kind of investments or hedge funds or international trade. It was all a foreign language for an academic administrator like Claus, and Harold waived off any request to explain his work in detail with a dismissive, “You would be bored to tears! I refuse to let our friendship be spoiled by you finding out what dull work I do to earn my daily bread.”
But earn his daily bread he must be doing. His anonymous contribution put the fundraising for Dr. Moore’s new endowed chair over the top with a great deal of room to spare. And just a day ago, he had pledged over half the total for her new project.
Windar did know that Harold’s family was from Italy and he had extensive European ties. Often, his calls would be from Frankfort or Turin or Vienna. He spoke of interests in Spain and the Balkans. He not only was more familiar with history than most laymen, but he had almost an expert knowledge of ancient objets d'art. Windar could only imagine what his private collection looked like.
Harold had expressed previously a fascination for Medieval European history hunting and jumped at the idea of the Emperors’ Treasure. He had asked to have a meeting with Windar to learn more about what Barbara had found.
Truth be told, Dean Windar has gone much further than just “wanting to get a hold of my tight little for some badly needed correction.”
The man has never spared the rod on my tight little and I can personally attest to the direction of the grain of the wood on his desk top!
Film at 11.
messaline
Crucified Amazon
Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
Chapter 14 April 14, 2018
Dr. Barbara Moore had settled into her suite in Bauer Palazzo just off St. Mark’s Square in Venice. Arriving in the early afternoon, with no appointments until the next day, she relaxed on her private balcony with a glass of the Shaeffer’s brothers’ Riesling (she’d kept one bottle and shipped the rest back to Oxford. She knew it was safe with Geoffrey. He only drank wine when he was with her. He was at heart a “real ale” man – whatever that meant.)
To many people these days, Venice means just canals and gondoliers. But, for much of the Middle ages, Venice was a major world power. The city-state of the Venetian Republic is considered the world’s first real international financial center, emerging in the 9th century and reaching its greatest prominence in the 14th century. The leader, the Doge, carried the Title of Duke of Dalmatia due to the domination of the Eastern Adriatic shore.
The spectacular Basilica Cattedrale Patriarcale di San Marco, achieved its main form during the life-time of Barbarossa. Named for Saint Mark, the gospel writer, it claims to contain his relics (transported from Alexandria, place of his death, in 828; ‘rescued’ according to the Venetian merchants who removed them, ‘stolen’ according to the Coptic Egyptian Church). The façade glows with gold ground mosaics, and from the 11th century on, the building has been known by the nickname Chiesa d'Oro (Church of Gold)
Dr. Moore’s third-floor corner balcony overlooked the hotel’s dining patio and both the Rio di San Moise and the Canal Grande. She had her laptop and was researching the Emperor Diocletian. While Barb was more expert in the Middle ages, she knew the classical world pretty well. However, to follow the treasure, she wanted to explore everything she could on the original secretor of it.
Diocletian’s origin was obscured by the humbleness of his birth (believed to be December 244 CE). His was a true Horatio Alger, Rags to Riches, story. The historian Eutropius wrote Breviarium ab urbe condita {An Abridged History of Rome} in the later fourth century, 100 years after the emperor’s birth. In it he reports: “Diocletianum…Dalmatia oriundum, virum obscurissime natum, adeo ut a plerisque scribae filius, a nonnullis Anullini senatoris libertinus fuisse credatur. {DIOCLETIAN, a native of Dalmatia, of such extremely obscure birth, that he is said by most writers to have been the son of a freedman of a senator named Anulinus.}” (19:2)
Similarly, John Zonaras, Byzantine chronicler and canonist, who lived, coincidentally at the time of Barbarossa, reported in his compendium of history: Epitome ton istorion, {Summary of History} “[Diocletian] ... was Dalmatian by birth, of undistinguished parentage, and some say an emancipated slave goatherd of the senator Anulinus, becoming commander of [Moesia] from the rank of simple soldier.” (12:31)
In the Epitome de Caesaribus, a Latin historical work written at the end of the 4th century by an unknown author, “Diocletianus Dalmata, Anulini senatoris libertinus, matre pariter atque oppido nomine Dioclea, quorum vocabulis, donec imperium sumeret, Diocles appellatus, {Diocletian, a Dalmatian, freedman of the senator Anulinus, was, until he assumed power, called in their language Diocles},” (39:1)
A freedman, that is, a former slave either freed by his master or having purchased his freedom, was the lowest level of society above slaves. Diocletian’s father was said to have worked as a stable boy and then groom for Anulinus and finally as a herder of his flocks. It is likely that once the son became important, he suppressed the story of his goatherd heritage from embarrassment.
The boy, Diocles (from Greek meaning Glory of Zeus) joined the army as a way out of the grinding poverty to which he was born. His talents for the military and command resulted in him rising rapidly through the ranks. At one point he was said to be Dux Moesiae, commander of the Roman forces South of the Danube in the Balkans. In 282, at age 38, the Emperor Carus made him commander of the Protectores domestici, the elite Roman Cavalry that served as guard of the Imperial household.
Carus, while campaigning against the Persians, died mysteriously a year later in August 283. His elder son, Carinus returned to Rome to be Emperor of the West, while his other son, Numerian remained as Emperor of the East. Numerian died without an heir mysteriously in November of 284, and the army unanimously saluted Diocles as their new commander, and he accepted the purple imperial vestments.
A struggle for power with Carinus followed, culminating in the Battle of the Margus in 285, where Carinus, after being defeated, was killed by his own men. Following Diocletian's victory, both the western and the eastern armies acclaimed him as Emperor.
Assuming the full title of Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus Augustus, the successful general proved to be an even better administrator. During the next 20 years, Diocletian reorganized virtually every aspect of governance in the Empire, reinvigorating the declining state to be able to flourish for another century. Barbara knew the he justly deserved to be regarded as one of the greatest Roman Emperors. He is not better known by the general public because Constantine, an even greater Emperor followed soon after and had better press from the early Christian Church.
He built his retirement home (palace) on the Dalmatian coast near where he grew up. Diocletian lived 8 years in retirement tending to his vegetable gardens and herding a small flock of goats. Not surprisingly, for a man who made his career in the army and had spent most of his life in camps, his palace looks like a large, stone Roman Army Camp (castra.) And in an age of Emperor assassinations, one could never be too careful.
Barb closed the tabs on the Emperor on her laptop. She’d learned all she wanted for now about Diocletian. She felt it would be better to explore him further when she was in his boyhood home and his palace. Perhaps then, something would strike her as important for how he would hide a treasure and how he might leave a clue to its location.
Next, she wanted to look up Harold Antonio. Windar had made an appointment for Barb to meet with him the next day.
Afterwards, Barb left the hotel and walked the short distance to Piazza San Marco. As she strolled around the nearly deserted square in the early evening, she soaked in the almost magical romance of the place. Her thoughts turned to Geoffrey.
How she wished he were there with her! His insistence on his age as the reason for not coming was patently ridiculous. He had the vigor of a much younger man (and not just in bed.) Barb knew his real reason. Anytime they were together in a professional setting, Geoff was totally self-effacing. He believed that he had received all the recognition that he had deserved over a long career, and he didn’t want to get in the way of Barbara’s renown. It was a subject on which the gentle septuagenarian would accept no discussion or dissent.
Barbara hurried back to her hotel room and made a phone call to Oxford.
Dr. Barbara Moore had settled into her suite in Bauer Palazzo just off St. Mark’s Square in Venice. Arriving in the early afternoon, with no appointments until the next day, she relaxed on her private balcony with a glass of the Shaeffer’s brothers’ Riesling (she’d kept one bottle and shipped the rest back to Oxford. She knew it was safe with Geoffrey. He only drank wine when he was with her. He was at heart a “real ale” man – whatever that meant.)
To many people these days, Venice means just canals and gondoliers. But, for much of the Middle ages, Venice was a major world power. The city-state of the Venetian Republic is considered the world’s first real international financial center, emerging in the 9th century and reaching its greatest prominence in the 14th century. The leader, the Doge, carried the Title of Duke of Dalmatia due to the domination of the Eastern Adriatic shore.
The spectacular Basilica Cattedrale Patriarcale di San Marco, achieved its main form during the life-time of Barbarossa. Named for Saint Mark, the gospel writer, it claims to contain his relics (transported from Alexandria, place of his death, in 828; ‘rescued’ according to the Venetian merchants who removed them, ‘stolen’ according to the Coptic Egyptian Church). The façade glows with gold ground mosaics, and from the 11th century on, the building has been known by the nickname Chiesa d'Oro (Church of Gold)
Dr. Moore’s third-floor corner balcony overlooked the hotel’s dining patio and both the Rio di San Moise and the Canal Grande. She had her laptop and was researching the Emperor Diocletian. While Barb was more expert in the Middle ages, she knew the classical world pretty well. However, to follow the treasure, she wanted to explore everything she could on the original secretor of it.
Diocletian’s origin was obscured by the humbleness of his birth (believed to be December 244 CE). His was a true Horatio Alger, Rags to Riches, story. The historian Eutropius wrote Breviarium ab urbe condita {An Abridged History of Rome} in the later fourth century, 100 years after the emperor’s birth. In it he reports: “Diocletianum…Dalmatia oriundum, virum obscurissime natum, adeo ut a plerisque scribae filius, a nonnullis Anullini senatoris libertinus fuisse credatur. {DIOCLETIAN, a native of Dalmatia, of such extremely obscure birth, that he is said by most writers to have been the son of a freedman of a senator named Anulinus.}” (19:2)
Similarly, John Zonaras, Byzantine chronicler and canonist, who lived, coincidentally at the time of Barbarossa, reported in his compendium of history: Epitome ton istorion, {Summary of History} “[Diocletian] ... was Dalmatian by birth, of undistinguished parentage, and some say an emancipated slave goatherd of the senator Anulinus, becoming commander of [Moesia] from the rank of simple soldier.” (12:31)
In the Epitome de Caesaribus, a Latin historical work written at the end of the 4th century by an unknown author, “Diocletianus Dalmata, Anulini senatoris libertinus, matre pariter atque oppido nomine Dioclea, quorum vocabulis, donec imperium sumeret, Diocles appellatus, {Diocletian, a Dalmatian, freedman of the senator Anulinus, was, until he assumed power, called in their language Diocles},” (39:1)
A freedman, that is, a former slave either freed by his master or having purchased his freedom, was the lowest level of society above slaves. Diocletian’s father was said to have worked as a stable boy and then groom for Anulinus and finally as a herder of his flocks. It is likely that once the son became important, he suppressed the story of his goatherd heritage from embarrassment.
The boy, Diocles (from Greek meaning Glory of Zeus) joined the army as a way out of the grinding poverty to which he was born. His talents for the military and command resulted in him rising rapidly through the ranks. At one point he was said to be Dux Moesiae, commander of the Roman forces South of the Danube in the Balkans. In 282, at age 38, the Emperor Carus made him commander of the Protectores domestici, the elite Roman Cavalry that served as guard of the Imperial household.
Carus, while campaigning against the Persians, died mysteriously a year later in August 283. His elder son, Carinus returned to Rome to be Emperor of the West, while his other son, Numerian remained as Emperor of the East. Numerian died without an heir mysteriously in November of 284, and the army unanimously saluted Diocles as their new commander, and he accepted the purple imperial vestments.
A struggle for power with Carinus followed, culminating in the Battle of the Margus in 285, where Carinus, after being defeated, was killed by his own men. Following Diocletian's victory, both the western and the eastern armies acclaimed him as Emperor.
Assuming the full title of Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus Augustus, the successful general proved to be an even better administrator. During the next 20 years, Diocletian reorganized virtually every aspect of governance in the Empire, reinvigorating the declining state to be able to flourish for another century. Barbara knew the he justly deserved to be regarded as one of the greatest Roman Emperors. He is not better known by the general public because Constantine, an even greater Emperor followed soon after and had better press from the early Christian Church.
He built his retirement home (palace) on the Dalmatian coast near where he grew up. Diocletian lived 8 years in retirement tending to his vegetable gardens and herding a small flock of goats. Not surprisingly, for a man who made his career in the army and had spent most of his life in camps, his palace looks like a large, stone Roman Army Camp (castra.) And in an age of Emperor assassinations, one could never be too careful.
Barb closed the tabs on the Emperor on her laptop. She’d learned all she wanted for now about Diocletian. She felt it would be better to explore him further when she was in his boyhood home and his palace. Perhaps then, something would strike her as important for how he would hide a treasure and how he might leave a clue to its location.
Next, she wanted to look up Harold Antonio. Windar had made an appointment for Barb to meet with him the next day.
Afterwards, Barb left the hotel and walked the short distance to Piazza San Marco. As she strolled around the nearly deserted square in the early evening, she soaked in the almost magical romance of the place. Her thoughts turned to Geoffrey.
How she wished he were there with her! His insistence on his age as the reason for not coming was patently ridiculous. He had the vigor of a much younger man (and not just in bed.) Barb knew his real reason. Anytime they were together in a professional setting, Geoff was totally self-effacing. He believed that he had received all the recognition that he had deserved over a long career, and he didn’t want to get in the way of Barbara’s renown. It was a subject on which the gentle septuagenarian would accept no discussion or dissent.
Barbara hurried back to her hotel room and made a phone call to Oxford.
Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
Chiesa d'Oro
Bauer Palazzo
Emperor Diocletian
Rendering of Diocletian's Palace
Piazza San Marco
Barbara's Suite
Note: she is never one to close the curtains on a great view (outside or in!)
Bauer Palazzo
Emperor Diocletian
Rendering of Diocletian's Palace
Piazza San Marco
Barbara's Suite
Note: she is never one to close the curtains on a great view (outside or in!)
Piazza San Marco
Good thing it wasn’t “aqua Alta” ...
Barbara's Suite
Note: she is never one to close the curtains on a great view (outside or in!)
Oh, room service? Please send up a nice handsome Italian. Yes, one of those hunks that delivered my bags would do just fine. Does he do massages?
messaline
Crucified Amazon
Attachments
Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
A spectator Sport?
Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
It comes as no surprise, given the rip-off of the original novel by Hollywood wannabe filmmakers.
Premiering on that has-been network, CBS, on May 21, was "Blood & Treasure" a thinly disguised sequel based on P. Pulp's later novel (a prequel to Minnesota Moore), Maestro Antonio.
I will say no moore at present to avoid a spoiler. I would suggest viewers avoid the cheap imitation and wait for the original novel to be serialized here starring an unnamed, European member.
Premiering on that has-been network, CBS, on May 21, was "Blood & Treasure" a thinly disguised sequel based on P. Pulp's later novel (a prequel to Minnesota Moore), Maestro Antonio.
I will say no moore at present to avoid a spoiler. I would suggest viewers avoid the cheap imitation and wait for the original novel to be serialized here starring an unnamed, European member.