QUOTE:
To Alar I,
Sultan of the Fatimid Islamic Sultanate…

Your Majesty, being an illustrated man as you are, both in the Muslim and Christian customs, I'm sure you know that the Roman Empire has defended Jerusalem for innumerable years, since Pompey the Great conquered it over a thousand years ago. Wars and sieges have been numerous, and many times was necessary to regain its ground. The blood shed by us, by our ancestors, friends and allies, soaks stones of its walls. They all could not but feel disappointed and disown us if we turned our backs and left Jerusalem without fight.

In addition, over the centuries, the Lord has always wanted His City to be again under the rule of the Emperor. That is why we never lose our faith in divine support to our cause, even if adverse circumstances arise. Faith and trust in God, and of course in our honorable allies, always help us to move forward and excel ourselves; so for all these reasons, our forces will stay at the battlements of Jerusalem, facing any enemy trying to break into and hurt its population, whether your forces or any other, both Christian or Muslim.

Anyway, I apologize for the delayed answer of our chancellery. Unfortunately, Protosebastos Smelgar is indisposed and cannot now deal with the affairs of government, as you probably already know. It has been necessary that his lieutenants took charge of government affairs, although I'm afraid we have needed much more time than is desirable.

I hope the Lord, in His Infinite Wisdom, turns sanity to your mind in time to prevent this unnecessary bloodshed.

Respectfully yours,

Andronikos Kontostephanos
Protoasekretes for Exterior of the Roman Empire

QUOTE:
To his Grace Andronikos Kontostephanos, Protoasekretes of the Roman Empire,

I am well familiarized with the history of the city your Grace. Still, Pompey the Great is dead, as are all the ancestors of whom you're speaking of. The dead care not and feel not, therefore I doubt they will be disappointed. But the Christian people that will suffer the consequences of your tactical choices will most likely be disappointed and some of them will probably die so.

But in a way I admire your courage and if roles were reversed I can't say I wouldn't have done the same as you did.

The time has come for the Roman Empire to cede Jerusalem...forever!

Alar I, Sultan of the Fatimid Islamic Sultanate