Last update: 11.14."11
Monte-Cristan encyclopedists and philosophers were fascinated to learn that Empress Theodora is Commander of the Amazon Corps. As pioneers in matters of Liberation of Women and Equality between the Fair and the self-proclaimed ‘Stronger’ sexes, we can only approve of such titles. But we wonder if the Amazon Corps is more than a Palace Guard, like the fabled Indian Maiden Guard of the Ancients. Are Byzantines ready to jeopardize the Charms of Aphrodite on the Fields of Ares?
Meanwhile the POPP and his councellors are worried by the Byzantine attempt to burn Paris. In Monte-Cristo the State is totally separate from the Church (and from any religious matter), but we are located among Roman Catholic states. Now, someone in Byzantium can discover that ‘Franks’ was a generic name for all Crusaders from western Europe, and that all Roman Catholics are to blame for the burning Constantinople in the 12th century. Reports that Byzantium is currently greatly increasing its fleet are received with some anxiety: are major naval, even amphibious operations in the Catholic Shores of the Mediterranean to be expected? In relation to this worrying subject, the Presipapal Academy of Sciences developped a devious steam engine to propel warships: our humble Presipality is too small and poor to built even a fregate-sized prototype, but is ready to sell the technical drawings and related rights to any wealthy Naval Power. Send proposals to the Board of Lucrative Patents, the Presipapal Palace, Monte-Cristo.
Do Lace Wars Neo-Byzantines soldiers look like *that*?
Update O4."09: While Neo-Byzantium makes sporadic appearances on the diplomatic scene as a fanatically anti-Christian ‘ally’ (subject state / protectorate?) of the Ottomans, Basileos Bob XXII is keeping a low profile since, folling the failed arsoning of Paris, his attempts to buy modern warships from England and the United Provinces were met with polite refusals.
Yet several cercles in Monte-Cristo are eager to learn more about this mysterious and seclusive Nation. The Palace, of course, as part of its never-ending, almost paranoid search for political information; POPP Louys personally, given his interest in exotic armies and foreign uniforms; some scholars, intrigued by the Cult of the Moon Goddess(es). One may wonder why the Cult was not eradicated by the Musilms dominating the area since, according to the Coran, while Christianity and Judaism are to be tolerated as ‘Faiths of the Book’, forced conversion of all other heathens is a ‘holy duty’. It appears that the Neo-Byzantines benefited at first from the idea that all ‘Greeks’ are Christians. Then, they managed to maintain this delusion (at least to the eyes of Turk officials who, for a reason ar another, tactfully did not wish to know better) with the suggestion that the Moon Goddess is merely an aspect of Virgin Mary. These scholars are interested (overexcited would be a better description) by the similarities between the figurations of the Moon Goddess (according to what -very little- is known) and those of the Bonne Mere in the very peculiar Monte-Cristan Winter Solstice Creche, and possible homologies between the ‘Moon Goddesses’ -plural- and our Trois Maries (another exemple of a supreme trifunctional goddess sometimes appearing as three entities?). Additionally, one of them -Professeur Schliemann- advances the intringuing suggestion that Neoconstantinopolis is located on the very site of Ancient Troy.
The lovely Heiress in casual hunting / training dress
The same in traditional Byzantine costume
Fanciful images of the Amazon Guard:
2 comments:
Posted on dec. 10 on SOCDAISY, after its owner, Otto, launched a ‘competition’ of a kind for Lace Wars Imagi-Nations :
"Dear Otto,
I don’t know if its creator is a member of the SOCIETY, but I feel that ‘Reconstituted Byzantium’ would enter the ‘competition’. I’ll send you the e-mail address of ‘the man behind’ by private mail. I’m sure Ill not mind if you contact him quoting me (anyway I’d be the one blamed!).
Indeed, a Lace War Imagi-Nation http://tinyurl.com/2klzgw
that:
- worships the Moon-Goddess (Ishtar?),
- fanatically hates France specially (and Roman Catholics more generally) for sacking and burning Constantinople, and recently tried to burn down Paris in retaliation: http://tinyurl.com/38e2zx
- is trying to re-discover Greek Fire and seemingly to launch a fleet
of steam-propelled warships,
- fields an army: « # in general terms dressed as 10-12th Century Byzantine infantry and cavalry except they carry muskets or carbines rather than spears. Basically the troops are in heavy mail and helmets except for the jager or light cavalry types which are just in helmets. Crusader miniatures, and some Essex, for the Byzantines, since they do not have weapons in their hands and RSM's weapons packs make up the muskets, haliberds, carbines and pistols for the troops. Some Foundry Roman emperors and officers for high command and staff.
# ShadowForge Tribals (as well as a few others that fit the mix) for the ‘Amazon Corps’: trained troops but do not fight as formed troops rather as a guerilla/delta type force when in the field; otherwise the Empress/royal childrens Palace Guard. All female royal children once they reach 10 years begin their training in the Unit….. »
Yes, such a Country seems worthy to enter a DAISY competition!
And IMHO deserves to be better known, hence this ‘public’ post. "
Neo-Byzantines Amazons: musings
"When in the field, they do not fight as formed troops rather as a guerilla/delta type force" lurking in the shadows like Tribals.
Indeed, but when guarding the Basilea Theodora and the Imperial Children, they would have a more impressive appearance.
As Mounted Escort, an obvious possibilty would be Cataphtact Amazons. Then, more standardization would be in order: all horses with 'mask', 'fuller' armor for officers. Armor covered with a decorative caparison of translucent golden voile, glittering with sparks of bright metals and colored glass and bearing decorative panels with the image of Theodora-Ishtar, partly in Ishtar's colors, partly in the Troop distinguishive color.
The helmets (maybe still varying slightly with rank) would be of a type with a a plume of horsehair in the Troop color. Probably a short decorative overcoat / tabbard / hoqueton assorted to the caparison.
Saddlery would be complemented with pistols holsters -and a feline (lynx, panther, lion, tiger) shabraque?
Weapons: sword & dagger (doubling as plug bayonet) at the waist; short carbine in a holster at the saddle (as the bowcase in the illo, but on the right) and a 1.3 - 1.4 m. long koncerz also born at the saddle. Companion-like Kontos / Kopia with a decorated pennant mainly in the Troop color.
In Palace Inner Guard duty such armor would be horrendeously cumbersome, heavy (and hot). I'd endvisage high, soft boots, a very light helmet with a tuff of horsehair, a loincloth and a cloak and a more decorative than protective or covering uppergarment.
Weapons: the huge two-handed sword, in rememberance of the Varangian Guard, would be complemented by (a pair of?) shortsword(s) / long dagger(s) and two pistols in a single holster, Turkish -Mameluck fashion.
Well, again being toying with dreams - or dreaming of toys...
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