However, the fate of Alexander and such are matters for later discussion.
At least for now, after David presented his proposal to confine the imperial pretender Alexander to a monastery, Manuel simply smiled playfully and did not obstruct it, ordering him to be dealt with in that manner.
After the affair of the pretender faction finally concluded, he turned his attention to preparing the well-deserved rewards for the Generals who had rendered great service to him and Bosporus during this period.
For this matter, as well as several subsequent stabilization measures to be implemented in Pontus, he specifically set aside nearly three days for preparation, and during this time, he specifically sought out noble dignitaries who were more familiar with the actual situation in Pontus and would not, and dared not, conceal anything from him for discussions.
After prior preparation and subtle probing, Caesar had a General understanding of how far he should go.
Based on this, on the morning three days later, he convened a court session in Trabzon Palace to formally bestow honors upon his meritorious officials.
The first to receive honors was Tukharovsky, who had been taken under Caesar's wing since his youth, but in this formal setting, he should be referred to by his full name, Dmitri Ivanovich Tukhachevsky-Rurik.
"By God… Therefore, I bestow upon you, Dmitri Ivanovich Tukhachevsky-Rurik, the title of Chersonesus Legion Commander, in recognition of your achievements for me and for Bosporus… Furthermore, in addition to the previous hundred households of income, I grant you an additional 750 stremma of fertile land outside Kerkimetis as a hereditary fief, and another 1000 stremma in Tauris and the rest of Pontus as personal land."
In response, Tukharovsky, as the Army Commander under Caesar, displayed the appropriate expression, "I am deeply humbled, Your Majesty."
In fact, he largely thought the same in his heart.
As a member of the Rurik family, he had some understanding of the Eastern Roman Empire's aristocratic system; for instance, the Romans did not have a mature system of noble titles like other regions of Europe, but rather used a bureaucratic aristocratic system based on court rituals and military organization, inherited from the Principate and subsequently reshaped and reformed multiple times throughout history.
Even after the implementation of the Pronoia system during the komnenos era and the catastrophe of 1204, at least nominally, the Roman Empire and its fragments still adopted the system of court titles from the komnenos era.
In other words, even now, the Eastern Roman cultural sphere nominally still does not have the so-called "duke, marquis, count, viscount, baron" noble title system.
The only relationships that could be considered feudal vassalage were special titles that only local power-holders or imperial relatives, such as Co-Basileus, Caesar, Sebastokrator, Despot, Prince, and Megas Doux, could use.
Therefore, to receive hereditary land and an exclusive title from his Roman monarch, Tukharovsky was already quite pleased.
As for the fief being divided into personal land and hereditary land, although somewhat surprised, it was not difficult to accept: hereditary, as the name suggests, could be passed down to descendants; personal, naturally, could only be enjoyed by him personally.
He still had a long time to serve Caesar, and the Army Commander was confident that he could further increase his status and fiefdom.
Speaking of which, the name of the military title he was granted felt a bit strange?
"Chersonesus Legion Commander" – it sounded like an ancient military district position name from the Macedonian period and before?
He remembered that Caesar had mentioned when discussing the military structure of the Autocratic State that he did not intend to simply copy the military district system that had been abolished hundreds of years ago?
In fact, Manuel himself indeed did not intend to simply copy the military district system, but this did not prevent him from drawing inspiration from it, for example, designing the titles of his subordinate Generals and commanders as special military leadership titles such as General, Legion Commander, and Guard Commander.
Incidentally, if a comparison must be made, then the position of Legion Commander should be roughly equivalent to that of a Count or Viscount in the Western European feudal peerage.
The subsequent awarding process was largely similar: the Turk Adian, deputy General of the Filaka Legion, was appointed Yuzhne Guard Commander, with 300 stremma of personal land located in the small Chersonese governorship of Bosporus in Eastern Europe; Kristo Balin, the General of the Tatar Cavalry Legion, Governor of West Kyzyl-Yar, and Chief of the Balin Tribe, also received 250 stremma of hereditary fiefdom, located in the Kyzyl-Yar governorship; and the General of the newly formed Circassian Legion, which had achieved considerable merits in the recently concluded war, an Adyghe Circassian named Yang Karlo, also received his due treatment: he was granted the title of "Dzhubga Guard Commander" with 100 stremma of personal land, also located in Dzhubga ①.
As for other Generals such as Posadas, Dungar, and Vladimir, since they were still on military duty, Manuel temporarily postponed their awards, intending to make specific allocations after their respective missions were completed.
The more prominent and significant awards concluded here; the remaining ones were mostly insignificant title transfers and promotions and rewards for lower-ranking officers who had distinguished themselves in battle.
And after bestowing honors upon these Generals and officers under his command, Manuel turned his attention to the local nobles of Trabzon and made the following arrangements, formally determining their status within the country: David Komnenos was recognized as the Despot of Trabzon, to signify his special co-ruling status, though this was only nominal; while local nobles like George Amiroutzes had their legitimate status and rights formally acknowledged, and were required to reaffirm their feudal obligations on the spot; as for the pagan lords of the conquered territories, Caesar declared that he would not recognize their status and immediately ordered the formal confiscation of their lands, to be nationalized by Bosporus.
By this point, the court session had already proceeded for nearly half its duration.
And just as the attendees were all relaxing, Caesar Manuel, seated on the throne, suddenly spoke, making them refocus their attention.
"Alright, the matter of enfeoffment and rewards concludes here.
Next, given the current situation in the Pontus region, I have decided to make some fundamental adjustments to the existing system."
As he said this, he deliberately paused, observing the expressions of his officials: his old subordinates brought from Tauris looked relaxed and normal, some even a little expectant; while top nobles like David and Amiroutzes, who still held high positions under his rule, were a bit nervous, but not overly so; however, some of the local small and medium-sized lords were already breaking out in cold sweat on their necks.
After observing for a moment, Manuel shifted his attention back; the series of edicts he was about to issue would transform the Pontus region under his rule into the form he desired.