RE: Byzantines in space..was Re: X to GZG conversions...

You wrote: 

>used for skirmishers and not line infantry.  Akritai were the thematic
>troops,Akritai meant only that they were the border thematics and not 

Akritai is going to be the name for full-time troops assigned to 
newly-settled planets in order to provide defense until the planet's 
thematic troops get on-line.  Remember, I'm translating FT/DS 
background into Roman terms, not the other way around.

>As for the Holy Roman Empire there is a famous saying (can't remember
>who said it) "The Holy Roman Empire was neither holy nor Roman." 

Nor much of an Empire, later on.  Seriously, since Donation was a 
fraud, Pope doesn't have _any_legal_secular_authority_, and can't piss 
in a pot without asking the Emperor's permission.  Of course, since the 
office of Emperor lapsed in 1453, that's no longer relevant.  Further 
conflict on this issue should be taken to e-mail before we start crying 
anathema on each other.

John M. Atkinson