Claudia Procula turns to her husband and says, “Pilatus I have a very bad feeling about this entire little squabble that you’re being sucked into. I know you think there is no wrong being committed. I also know that you have had some problems with the locals and their religious political machinations. But if you cave into them on this, I have the strangest premonitions that the results will be more detrimental to us and to Rome than we can imagine.”
Pilatus, who is in the habit of meting out cruel treatment, even by Roman standards, is also very superstitious. Claudia has been correct regarding a number of important decisions that he ignored in the past. The tone of her voice gets his attention.
“Claudia, I don’t think this guy is anything more than a pain in the ass to the locals and is not a threat to Rome. I’m inclined to wash my hand of the whole thing especially after Antipas didn’t really see a threat. He’s closer to them than I am. I tried to throw it into his court and he just gave it back to me, the shit head.”
Claudia nods and says, “So?”
“I’m going to let him go and let the locals deal with this. I have other more important things to worry about especially, Rome.”
“GUARDS,” he orders.
The guards come in. Pilatus orders, “Free the Hebrew, Jesus. Feed him, cloth him and guard him to his home. This is a local issue I want no part of. I wash my hands of it.”
Claudia gives him a kiss. “Have some wine and while you’re at it, dismiss the other guards.”
****
The local Rabbis are in a furor. They thought they had this one locked up. Pilatus was known for extreme cruelty. They figured they could get this rebel, this apostate, taken care of and feed Pilatus’s psychopathic behavior. They held a meeting and decided to get Jesus banished instead. Playing on his fear of rebellion, they petitioned Pilatus to banish Jesus if he wouldn’t terminate him.
“Claudia,” Pilatus says to his wife just after a meeting with the local Hebrew leadership, “They are being such pains in my ass about this guy. They claim he could foment rebellion. ‘Look at all the poor that are following him. We have little control’ they say.” I am being petitioned to banish him if I won’t put an end to his life. You have a strong feeling about this guy. Please, your opinion. You’re a Roman.”
Claudia takes a long hard look at her husband. This simple little issue is giving him more trouble that it appears to be worth. She says, “If you have do anything, banishment is better than killing him. Do what you must. You’re Equestrian Procurator. Your word is law. Be done with it and move on.”
****
Jesus was sent to Gaul. There with his family and small band of followers he set up a new life. He was separated from most of his kin and support. As rough as it was he, his immediate family, and small group of dear friends managed to survive. At the same time he developed a following with the locals.
As he matured, Jesus managed to adjust his preaching methods so as not to arise the ire of the local power elite. His peaceful respect for life was so different than the cruel and barbarous nature of the world. More and more people flocked to his teaching.
This Jew was different. People began coming to Temple and with that came changes to the religion. It became expansionist and universal.
Rome never suffered from the Jewish/Christian revolts and growing disaffection that could have been, had Pilatus martyred Jesus. Rome became just another ongoing Empire. It had its ups and downs but never relinquished power. It made peace with the Northern Barbarians. Rome continued its ongoing wars with Persia, until the advent of the Prophet.
The Prophet’s organizational ability mobilized the disenfranchised to the point in history that they became a force equal to if not stronger than Rome. The end result was recognition of spheres of influence. Persia east to the Chinese border was the Prophet’s.
Rome held most of the Mediterranean to include Gaul.
Europe, as such never united under Charlemagne. There was never a Christian Rome threatened by an Islamic army that forced the inclusion of the Frankish ruler. The Islamic empire never established a foothold in Gaul. Islam never had the ability to launch an attack against the Barbarians. There was never a need to unite to protect themselves against Islam. Rome was a solid buffer.
Barbarian unity came about centuries later after it was obvious that in order to maintain themselves with any sort of independence from the two huge power blocs they had to do something or be subsumed.
The Barbarian Territories as they were referred to by both the Islamic Empire and Roman Empire became fertile ground for trade, slaves and mercenaries. Occasional attempts to bring them into the political fold of either camp never succeeded.
Celtia a federation of island kingdoms jutting into the Atlantic was decidedly at odds with most of the barbarian lands and established relations with Rome, Islam and eventually China. Celtia became an educated and cultured entity. It also became a neutral place for all the other political regimes to meet and hash out difficulties. Celtic expansion would come later. The islands federations would eventually be used as a entrepots and springboards for expansion and exploitation of other lands.
-- By Richard Tornello
