Chapter 101

Davos’s words made Cornelius and the other five men on the stage nod in agreement. They all felt that Davos was a calm and clear-headed thinker; he would have no problem serving as a magistrate. The new citizens, however, groaned in disappointment.

Just then, Hylos’s voice boomed from the crowd. “If he can’t be king, then he can be magistrate for life! Just like Dionysius of Syracuse! The other city-states weren’t hostile to Syracuse; on the contrary, they sought its help!”

“That’s right! Make him magistrate for life! That way we’ll never have to worry about some incompetent fool running Amendolara!” Olivas shouted in support.

“Davos for magistrate for life!” Matonis, Giorgris, and the others began to chant.

The passion of the new citizens was ignited once more.

Listening to the rising tide of calls, Cornelius’s heart pounded with anxiety. He desperately wanted to tell this mob of mercenaries, who knew nothing but killing, that Dionysius of Syracuse had seized power through bloody violence, not by a vote of the Citizens’ Assembly. And Syracuse was the most powerful city-state in Magna Graecia; the other cities wouldn’t have dared to be hostile to it.

But faced with the roaring crowd, Cornelius’s courage failed him again. He turned his gaze back to Davos, hoping that this level-headed young leader would once again reject his soldiers’ unreasonable demands.

This time, however, Davos said, “Since the citizens of Amendolara have chosen me to serve as magistrate for life, I will accept the office you have bestowed upon me! I swear to Hades that I will use all my wisdom and ability to lead you, to make Amendolara prosperous and strong, and to give you all a better future!”

A tidal wave of cheers erupted from the crowd.

“These freemen know nothing! They have no idea what ‘magistrate for life’ truly means! Cornelius, you have to talk to that young leader!” Listening to his companion’s panicked whispers, Cornelius mustered his courage and stepped forward. “Davos… ah… Amendolara has never had the office of magistrate for life. This violates the laws and traditions of our city. You must make them stop this farce!”

Davos spun around, his eyes flashing. “A farce?! You call this a farce?! Is the Citizens’ Assembly not the highest authority in a city-state? Any law, though it may not be proposed by the assembly, must be approved by it to be enacted. Is that not correct? Are the people shouting below not citizens of Amendolara? Do they not constitute a vast majority? Is a resolution proposed and passed by them not in accordance with the legal procedures of Amendolara?!”

Davos’s words struck Cornelius like iron nails. He was completely unable to withstand the assault. “But… but…” he stammered.

“Or perhaps,” Davos continued with a cold sneer, “you would like to tell them, ‘Citizens, your proposal is wrong, and we will not recognize it!’”

Cornelius looked down at the sea of cheering, exultant faces. He swallowed hard and instinctively shrank back.

Davos continued, his voice loud enough for not just Cornelius but for the other five men on the stage to hear clearly. “After the defeat of Athens, the model of Greek democracy, some of its own citizens began to doubt the democratic system. The rise of the Thirty Tyrants in Athens would not have been possible without their support. In the east, many Greek city-states have already begun to abandon democracy. The suffering that Amendolara has endured—was it not the democratic system that played a disastrous role in it?”

His words left them all speechless. It was true. At the time, the magistrate Marcellus had strongly advocated for defending the city against the Lucanians and had opposed abandoning their home. The other magistrate, Gratibavlos, had leaned toward a temporary relocation to Thurii, and the populace had been split into two factions. With the two sides deadlocked, a portion of the citizens—including Cornelius and the men now standing on the stage with him—had decided to force the issue and leave before a resolution was passed. In the end, to prevent a schism, the people of Amendolara had been forced to pass a resolution to evacuate together.

Guilt and fear assailed Cornelius’s heart. His throat felt dry. He swallowed again, and then heard the terrifying Davos say solemnly, “Rest assured. I swear to Hades that your rights will not only be protected, but they will be enhanced.”

Just as Davos was making his promise to Cornelius and the others, someone in the crowd below shouted, “I agree to Davos serving as magistrate for life!”

“I agree as well!”

***

One by one, the citizens voiced their assent.

Cornelius walked to the front of the stage, each step heavy. He did not know what consequences this decision would bring to Amendolara. He only knew that if this matter was not resolved today, the mercenaries, shamed and enraged, would surely smash this city to pieces.

With no more time to regret whether he had “let the wolf into the sheepfold,” Cornelius stood before the crowd, composed himself, and forced the words out. “The motion to appoint Davos as magistrate for life of Amendolara is passed. From this day forward, Davos shall serve as the magistrate for life of Amendolara, until his soul returns to the underworld…”

“Hail Victory!”

“Hail Victory!”

***

The new citizens below roared with triumph, as if they had just won a great battle, forming a sea of joy.

The original citizens of Amendolara had mixed reactions. Some were furious, muttering curses under their breath. Some were indifferent, as if the matter had nothing to do with them. And some cheered along with the new citizens.

Sextus and a few of the other officers who had their reservations looked on with a sense of loss, but they all forced themselves to smile.

Davos, a smile on his own face, strode forward and announced, “As your newly appointed magistrate for life, in order to better govern Amendolara, I propose that Cornelius be appointed to the position of Deputy Archon!”

“Agreed!” Not only the exultant new citizens, but many of the original citizens shouted their approval as well. They thought that with Cornelius’s assistance, this young and unfamiliar magistrate for life would at least not act too rashly. They did not realize that Cornelius’s heart had just sunk to the depths of despair.

It wasn’t just that Davos had altered Amendolara’s power structure and created a new position. Cornelius had been hoping that another magistrate would be elected—even an annual one—to at least provide a check on Davos’s power. But Davos had given him no such opportunity. He had simply erased Amendolara’s political tradition of a dual magistracy. The title of “Deputy Archon” clearly implied a subordinate role. Davos was aiming for a dictatorship.

As for Davos himself, more than six months of hard-won experience, combined with the knowledge from his past life, had left him with little faith in the democratic systems of the Greek city-states in this world, especially in such a turbulent era. He was confident that his rule, with others in advisory roles, would be far more efficient and powerful than a government divided among many.

Through careful analysis and preparation, he believed he could succeed. Although the Greeks had a tradition of independence and freedom, the issue was more nuanced. Mercenaries, as a profession, were accustomed to obedience from their long years of campaigning; otherwise, they could not win battles. Soldiers admired a general who led them to victory after victory, and the immense prestige Davos had accumulated over the past six months was enough to make his men trust him with their lives. Furthermore, after their experiences in Persia, they had witnessed the vastness of the Persian Empire; their views on monarchy and autocracy were naturally different from those of ordinary Greeks. Of course, if this election had been held after six months of peaceful life, the outcome might have been very different.

Through meticulous planning, Davos had finally achieved his goal. Archon for life. In reality, it was Dictator for Life. In his memory, both Sulla and Caesar in Roman history had held such a post. Fearing it would provoke a negative reaction from the other city-states, he had changed the title from “Dictator” to “Archon” as a veil.

Davos gazed at the cheering crowd below, his heart surging with emotion as his thoughts drifted. In the western sky, the sun was about to set. When today was over, the old Amendolara would be a thing of the past. Tomorrow, a new Amendolara would be born.

***

Author’s Note: Davos has, through a trial of blood and fire, won a place for himself to stand. But Amendolara is just one insignificant city-state among the thousands in the Mediterranean. If Davos wishes to achieve his great ambitions, he still has a long road ahead of him. And as he develops his new home, he will face even more arduous and brutal tests.

Please look forward to the next volume: The First Crotoniate War.