Friends, Romans, countrymen: lend me your ears!

For far too long have we been complacent in ensuring the security and safety of our great Empire. We have allowed traitors to operate in our midsts, to build power bases, and to sabotage our interests from within. But no longer!

Loyal agents of the Empire have identified the traitors, and they shall be brought to face justice for their heinous crimes! The first and foulest among them, the Consul and Magister Officiorum Marcus, is hereby stripped from those offices and all others he possesses. In addition, he is declared outlaw and enemy of the people, and sentenced to death. His chief compatriot, Heraclius, is similarly hereby stripped of all offices and sentenced to death. The organizations those two traitors controlled, the Scholae Palatinae and the Excubitors, are both placed under the immediate authority and control of the Emperor; members of those organizations who fail to report for duty are hereby sentenced to death.

But an even more insidious treason still exists. Members of my own Francian Guard, oathbound and sworn to serve me and my lawful heirs and successors, have deserted their duty and besmirched their honour by conspiring with the traitors. The Comes Francorum, a traitor and oathbreaker to the core, is hereby stripped of his office and sentenced to death. He shall be replaced by the commander of my personal close protection guard, one of the handful of Guardsmen who have not been swayed by the traitors' treacherous words. All other Guardsmen are hereby given an offer of pardon, if they swear to abandon their treachery, and prove their worth by fighting against the traitors' remnant forces. All who refuse to fight are hereby sentenced to death.

As the second of the two consuls has been dismissed from his post, a new consul must be appointed. Rome must always have two consuls, not more, nor less. To replace the ass that was consul, a new ass shall be appointed to replace him. Cunctatus, the loyal carrier of my wardrobe on my many travels and campaigns, is hereby declared Consul of the Senate of Constantinople–New Rome! May he prove a more loyal and competent consul than his predecessor.

Furthermore, I consider that Carthage must be destroyed.

Roma Invicta!