The Break
The Orthodox Church of Sicily had been an opponent of Sicily's involvement in the War of the Holy Roman Empire since its beginning. The Patriarch of Sicily believed that Christian should not fight Christian, and he especially objected to the Homage that gave Sicily Byzantine protection, as well as the various alliances with Muslim and pagan countries that occurred in the war.
At first, church opposition to the war was subtle. Priests in church began including sections in their sermons about how "Christians should not raise blades against Christians". Anti-Muslim and anti-pagan rhetoric became even more common among the populace. Rumors even began spreading that the King of Sicily had sold his soul to the devil to seal the Homage.
The exact series of events leading to the Break is unclear. All that is known is that it involved several backroom deals, shady dealings with powerful men, and more than a bit of lies. But since the Orthodox Church was never investigated too closely by the state, these were able to go through. At last, on Sunday, June 4, 876, the full Break occurred.
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The Sunday prayers in the royal church began as usual. Royal guards were positioned outside the church, the royal family sat in the church, and the priest preached and recited from the Bible. However, the sermon soon began preaching against the War of the Holy Roman Empire. A priest, writing the moment down for posterity, observed that the king was becoming agitated at these words directed at him. (That very priest, whose name is forever unknown, is the source for most of the following occasions, and they may be embellished at his discretion.)
The sermon closed, and the priest finished, And so those who fight against Christ and offer brutal sacrifices in the names of pagan gods as Zeus and Allah shall be judged in the fires of Hell for eternity.
King Iaonnis stood up and demanded the priest be removed. Nobody moved to comply with his request, not even the royal guards. However, the guards did turn around to face inside the church. The preacher who had delivered the sermon grimly nodded and said, King Iaonnis Valerius. The Church has watched your activities for Sicily warily. In your time, you have laid arms against the Holy Roman Empire, who, though they do follow a Pope, are Christians nonetheless. You have paid unholy homage to the pagan empire of the east, a cruel mockery of the former splendor of Rome. You have had our Christian army tainted by the stain of the Mohammadans and the pagans. And so, the Church has no conclusion but that you have strayed from the will of God, and so your right to rule is revoked.
The church went silent. Then the royal guards marched in towards the king. He stood in shock, before frantically trying to escape. His wife put her two children behind her, so they would not have to witness the event. The king struggled, but the guards, their place in heaven assured if they detained the king who had sold his soul to the devil, restrained him. He was brought out to the courtyard, where people who had refused to turn against the king and save their souls were similarly gathered. In the center of the courtyard were a group of priests, the Patriarch of Sicily at their head.
He spoke, Gods will has been revealed. And it is thus: no one man can truly rule under Gods name. Others have their ways of government. The Holy Roman Empire finds God through their Pope. But Sicily shall not abide by one man any more. No king may rule, As he spoke, one of the priests was handed a large, two-headed axe. The first of the loyalists was brought forward by the guards and kicked down to the floor. God must be the first ruler of any nation. The Church has decided that Gods will must be interpreted by a council. The priest brought down the axe. The loyalist had no time to scream.
The Patriarch continued, The council will now rule all of Sicily. Any who oppose it oppose Gods very will. With the council of priests, Sicily shall be enlightened. We shall become the holiest of nations, truly chosen. We shall walk a path of peace, the king was brought forth and kicked down. He looked up at the Patriarch who stood over him and the priest holding the now bloodied axe, with our fellow Christians. But those who embrace the pagan and unholy gods will have no mercy. The king closed his eyes.
News of the Kings death, and more importantly, the Churchs decision of government, quickly spread. The majority of priests had heard tell of such an occasion being planned, and they joined the new government fervently. It was they who spread the word to the common populace. Most of the peasants, who saw more of an effect from the Church than the King, fell in line. Of course, instability ensued from some areas. But that is for a later day...