Emperor Lucius
Also known as: Lucius · Family: Rome · Role: emperor · First appears: Book V, Chapter I
Life events
- Emperor Lucius demands Arthur acknowledge Rome’s sovereignty and pay Britain’s tribute, threatening war if he refuses.(Book V, Chapter I)
- With: King Arthur
- “The high and mighty Emperor Lucius sendeth to the King of Britain greeting, commanding thee to acknowledge him for thy lord, and to send him the truage due of this realm unto the Empire”
- Arthur refuses to pay tribute to Rome.(Book V, Chapter I)
- With: King Arthur
- “for the demand grieveth me sore, for truly I will never pay truage to Rome”
- King Arthur rejects Roman tribute, claims imperial sovereignty, and demands Rome acknowledge him as Emperor and Governor.(Book V, Chapter II)
- With: King Arthur
- “I pretend to have and occupy the sovereignty of the empire, wherein I am entitled by the right of my predecessors”
- Emperor Lucius summons Rome's subjects and allies to assemble an army against King Arthur.(Book V, Chapter II)
- “And I shall send for them all that be subjects and allied to the empire of Rome to come to mine aid.”
- Allied rulers assemble around Rome, and Emperor Lucius prepares his forces for war.(Book V, Chapter II · 📍 Rome)
- “Thus all these kings, dukes, and admirals, assembled about Rome, with sixteen kings at once, with great multitude of people.”
- Emperor Lucius captures a castle near Cologne and destroys lands King Arthur had conquered from King Claudas.(Book V, Chapter II · 📍 Cologne)
- With: King Arthur King Claudas
- “and came unto Cologne, and besieged a castle thereby, and won it soon, and stuffed it with two hundred Saracens or Infidels, and after destroyed many fair countries which Arthur had won of King Claudas.”
- Emperor Lucius orders his host to meet in Burgoyne, intending to destroy the realm of Little Britain.(Book V, Chapter II · 📍 Burgoyne)
- “and commanded them to meet with him in Burgoyne, for he purposed to destroy the realm of Little Britain.”
Book V, Chapter I
- with King Arthur (Lucius threatens war against Arthur.) “And if thou refuse his demand and commandment know thou for certain that he shall make strong war against thee, thy realms and lands, and shall chastise thee and thy subjects”
- with King Arthur (Arthur refuses to pay tribute to Rome.) “I believe well, said Arthur, that this matter pleaseth thee well, but these answers may not be answered, for the demand grieveth me sore, for truly I will never pay truage to Rome”
Book V, Chapter II
- enemies with King Arthur (Arthur and Lucius are preparing to wage war against one another.) “When the Emperor Lucius had well understood their credence, he was sore moved as he had been all araged, and said, I had supposed that Arthur would have obeyed to my commandment, and have served you himself, as him well beseemed or any other king to do. O Sir, said one of the senators, let be such vain words, for we let you wit that I and my fellows were full sore afeard to behold his countenance; I fear me ye have made a rod for yourself, for he intendeth to be lord of this empire, which sore is to be doubted if he come, for he is all another man than ye ween, and holdeth the most noble court of the world, all other kings nor princes may not compare unto his noble maintenance. On New Year’s Day we saw him in his estate, which was the royalest that ever we saw, for he was served at his table with nine kings, and the noblest fellowship of other princes, lords, and knights that be in the world, and every knight approved and like a lord, and holdeth Table Round: and in his person the most manly man that liveth, and is like to conquer all the world, for unto his courage it is too little: wherefore I advise you to keep well your marches and straits in the mountains; for certainly he is a lord to be doubted. Well, said Lucius, before Easter I suppose to pass the mountains, and so forth into France, and there bereave him his lands with Genoese and other mighty warriors of Tuscany and Lombardy.”
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Extracted from the original text of Le Morte d'Arthur. Made with Rho MD.