Chapter 100: A king or an Archon?

“The highest authority of Athens and Amendolara is the ecclesia, as all the citizens are allowed to participate and decide on the legal, military, and diplomatic affairs of the city-state. Athens has a system of ‘Ten Strategoi’, while Amendolara has 2 archons, who are in charge of the internal affairs of the city-state in peacetime and serve as the polemarchos of the army in times of war, and they are elected by the ecclesia every year. Athens has the council of 500, while Amendolara has the council of 100 elder, and its members are also elected by the ecclesia every year. They are responsible for the implementation and trials of the laws of the city-state, and assist the archons in managing the city-state, as well as ordinary foreign affairs. They also have an important task of examining and providing candidates for archonship. Originally, the election of an archon is held in june every year. The elders nominates the candidates and the ecclesia will elect them. However, because Amendolara has just experience a war, and there is a need to urgently elect an archon in order to lead the people to rebuild our home. Therefore, an exception will be held today. I’d like to invite Davos, the former leader of the mercenaries, and the main officers to come to the stage and to discuss it with each other and elect the candidate for archonship first.” As soon as Cornelius spoke, the new citizens (former mercenaries) were getting impatient.

“Who else to choose! The archon of Amendolara can only be our leader, Davos!” Someone shouted in the crowd and it immediately got the approval of the new citizens.

“Yes! We are not going to pick anyone but leader Davos!”

“Only Davos can lead us and continue to create miracles!”

“With Leader Davos being the polemarchos of a hundred battles, we won’t need to worry about losing!”

“Leader Davos for archon!”

“Davos!”

“Davos!!”

“Davos!!!”

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Thousands of the newly joined citizens that are in the square unanimously shouted the name of Davos, and their momentum is overwhelming. 

Cornelius encountered this situation for the first time, and he could not help but panic and immediately turned to look at Davos for help.

Davos smiled and said a word to Asistes, who immediately ran to the back of the square.

Soon, there was a loud sounding salpinx that rang out in the venue, which immediately silence these former mercenaries of Davos, and the other mercenaries have also gradually stopped shouting.

Cornelius was alarmed by the powerful charisma of Davos: There is no doubt that Davos would become the archon. Therefore, the other archon must be chosen among the original citizens of Amendolara.

Cornelius was anxiously thinking on how he should say it, when suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted, “Brothers, although we have chosen leader Davos as the archon, don’t forget that he will need to share his power with another person, and next year, there will be a need to elect a new archon. But who can do better than leader Davos! Who can create more miracles than leader Davos! Who can command a battle better than leader Davos! Who else is more favored by the gods than leader Davos!”

“NO ONE!!”

“NONE!!”

“Are you all willing to let an inexperienced and incompetent man rule over you?” Another man shouted.

“NO!!” This is what the mercenaries were worried about.

“Brothers, think about it. Is democracy really good? Think of Athens, it is once the most powerful city-state in Greece, but it was destroyed by a group of incompetent politician fighting against each other! Think about the city-states that we passed through in the Black Sea, which are also democratic, and the governance of their city-state are very bad. An army must obey the command of a wise strategos in order to win. If a city-state wants to be strong, then it should follow this principle. Brothers, in the past year, we have experienced a lot of difficulties, but we have also gained a lot of knowledge. We have seen the vast territory of Persia, the tyranny of Sparta, and the tyranny of Thurii…are you willing to enjoy freedom under democracy and live your life being bullied, or are you willing to be strong under the leadership of leader Davos?! Soldiers, tell us you choice!” Davos nodded unnoticeable at Olivos, who was shouting in the crowd.

“King Davos!” Suddenly, there was a loud shout in the crowd, and Cornelius and the others on the stage, as well as the original citizens of Amendolara were shocked.

Both Sesta and Adrien turned to look at Davos not far away, as well as the senior officers of these mercenaries around him, such as Antonios, Kapus and Amintas who remained calm. If they knew Davos better, they would find that the people that led the soldiers in the venue were Hielos, Matonis, Olivos and so on. Sesta and Adrien looked at each and remained silent.

With that loud shout, the whole venue fell into a terrible silence, but soon, the new citizens began to shout, “King Davos.” It was sparse at first, but in the end, it became more louder and clearer.

Cornelius and the others looked at each other, and one of them wanted to rush out but was held back, and he finally gave up. In the face of the overwhelming momentum of thousands of people, no one dared to summon up their courage and shout, “You are wrong! Amendolara will never let someone to be elected as king! The law of Amendolara does not allow it! The citizens of Amendolara will never allow it either!!” The reason they manage to live to this day and not die in the hands of the Lucanians like the rest of the citizens of Amendolara is because they are not brave enough, and that’s why Davos chose them. However, most of the citizens of Amendolara are old, weak, sick and disabled. They have neither the intention nor the capability to confront the mercenaries.

Cornelius suddenly regretted in promising to allow the mercenaries to join Amendolara, but the current situation did not allow him to think much about it. And once again, he turned his pleading gaze to Davos.

Davos saw that the time was right. The new citizens then saw his figure appear on the stage, which made them more excited and shouted at the same time, “King Davos!”

“King Davos!!”

“King Davos!!”

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cornelius gave Davos a complicated look and gave way.

Davos faced the crowd under the stage, and the shouting had almost burst his ears. He then swung his hand down with a majestic air…

The venue gradually became calm.

“Soldiers, no, you should now be called citizens of Amendolara! When we left Byzantium, I said to the officers that ‘you will become citizens of a city-state and will have your own land.’ In less than two months, I have fulfilled my promise. Today’s harvest, you have won it with your sweat and blood, and indomitable spirit! You deserve it. Congratulations to you – the new citizens of Amendolara!!”

“Hooray!”

“Hooray!!” The new citizens cheered excitedly, and some even shed tears.

“Thank you very much for your trust in choosing me to be the king of Amendolara. For me, being king does not mean that I will have great powers to oppress the citizens and gain benefits for myself. It means that I will have greater responsibility to make the citizens of Amendolara live a happier life, and make our city-state stronger and free from being bullied by others! Although I have the confidence to do so, but -” Paused Davos, and Cornelius was so tense that his heart was about to leap out of his throat.

“I will have to apologize to you, but I can’t be king.” As soon as this was said, the rest of the people in the stage breathed a sigh of relief, while the new citizens were in a state of uproar.

“Why?!” The new citizens are asking questions.

“Because there are few Greek city-states that adopt the monarchy system, even Sparta has a dual kingship (Macedon does not count, as the Greeks do not regard them as a Greek city-state). If I become the king of Amendolara, then Amendolara would be rejected by the city-states of Magna Graecia, and if Amendolara wants to develop, it will need to trade with other city-states. In order to be strong, Amendolara needs to unite with the other city-states. If Amendolara was isolated and has no allies, then all great ideas will become nothing. What’s more terrible is that Amendolara will be attacked by other Greek city-states who doesn’t like monarchy. Therefore, for the sake of Amendolara, I can’t be a king!”