Imperial Diet VII

Matthias stands after he can take no more of the present debate.

Enough! It is obvious this Diet Session has gone on too long. We should have kept it to the customary three days, as we have gone from debating legislation to refighting the battles of the past.

What did the Kaiser ask when he opened the Session? "Let the past be the past". Yet here we now are, fighting in the mud over semantics and where we should rebury our dead.

We are better than this. We need to be better than this, or our enemies will triumph.

It is obvious that enmity still remains amongst us, but we must put it aside and focus on rebuilding the Reich. There are wounds that will never heal, except when we are all dead, and no legislation or verbal sparring can close them. But we must go on anyway, or this Empire will fall.

Matthias takes his seat, with a sidelong glance at the empty throne.


OOC: FH's edict should be 14.5 not 14.4.

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showp...4&postcount=15

I am in complete accord. Let us finish this now, and be over with it.

Elberhard: I believe this Diet has run its course. I am closing this full Diet session. Ballots will be prepared shortly. Debate and discussion may continue.

It seems we will have to agree to disagree then, for my belief is that neither Hümmel nor Dassel were honorable nor noble, as honorable and noble men would not openly rebel against authority, wantonly destroy Imperial property, refuse to rejoin to fight the French, and commit treason. Nay, honorable men would put aside their differences when given that offer and wait for a diet session to bring across their point rather than deplete Imperial resources and throw the empire into even deeper peril. The late Duke offered such, but these men rejected.
Of course I will not disagree that Jens von Kassel did not have many supporters, but the diet protocols also do not show that there ever was a vote to place him in the Pillory. Who made the decision then?

Now, as for Pfalz, he may have died a rebel, but never did he attack fellow Germans when he had the opportunity to do so by coming to Staufen and instead focussed his attention north to defend against Danes and Frenchmen. That is honorable. Indeed, he kept out of the war except by name.

Elberhard: Given the state of the voting and Fritz von Kastilien's conceding defeat, I am happy to announce that Duke Arnold is now Chancellor of the Reich!

Matthias speaks.

Congratulations to Duke Arnold. Having been a Chancellor, I praise him for taking the position during such trying times.

Matthias bows to the Kaiser.

With your Majesty's leave, I will depart for Outremer. The task ahead of myself and Andreas is daunting, but I will not rest until the Kingdom has regained its standing.

May God preserve us and smite our enemies.

Matthias exits.

Karl Zirn speaks,

Excellent news! We can now move forward. Matthias, I wish you safety in your travels and success with your enemies. How I only wish I could return with you. Good Luck my friend.

The old count slowly walks out of the Diet ready to return home.

Standing and moving to the chamber floor Arnold says a few words to Matthias and Karl as they leave.

Proceeding onto the floor the Duke is clearly very focused.

My Liege, Prinz Peter, Viceroy Matthias, Dukes, Nobles of the Reich.

I accept the vote that has been cast here over the past few days and would like to thank Fritz for conducting himself with honour and decorum in his campaign against me.

I certainly have no issue with any of the men that vote in favour of Fritz and I would like them to know that at this time.

I will now move the Chancellors office to Ragusa and you will all receive orders and recommendations forthwith.

Elberhard: All knights flying Imperial colours, including those in the most advanced Gothic armour, now swear a personal oath of allegiance to the Kaiser. Those existing regiments that were able to do so, have joined my army in its march on Rome.

I wish to announce that any other Imperial regiments that have not joined me may stay with their current commanders. Similarly, any future regiments that the Chancellor wishes to recruit may be freely deployed. I will only call upon those regiments in the event of a future rebellion against lawful authority.

As for those regiments that have already joined me, I require their services for the moment until Captain Draganos and his army of Latinkon have been disposed of. Thereafter, any surplus regiments will be sent to where they are most in need. Swabia seems the most likely candidate.

Arnold:

So I'm free to recruit them as I see fit, those that haven't joined you can stay where they are and after you've got your arse into gear and hammered those two other Byzantine armies any Imperial Knights in the reinforcement column can be redeployed...most likely going to Swabia?

Is that the translation I can use Oh might one?

Elberhard: Sadly, Chancellor, my arse - although still magnificent - is not as young as it once was, but I will endeavour to move it as fast as I can. However, I am glad to see your hearing and mind remain as razor sharp as ever, Arnold.

Perhaps I could be of use in leading those men to Swabia ?

Once their use ot our Emperor is over, of course...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by econ21

Elberhard: Sadly, Chancellor, my arse - although still magnificent - is not as young as it once was, but I will endeavour to move it as fast as I can. However, I am glad to see your hearing and mind remain as razor sharp as ever, Arnold.

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Arnold:

Indeed your Majesty, the gossip from the English section of my entourage has confirmed that, even though it is somewhat older, your arse is still as fine a specimen of German flesh as can be gazed upon by womankind!!

I'm looking forward to seeing it in action on my way to Ragusa.

Karolinger!!! Get off those god damn boats will you!!!??

Arnold:

My lords!! The Reich is in serious trouble.

I refer you to the current reports.

(OOC: Latest save in the Orders and Reports thread)

The lose of Milan has crippled us...we have no florins and the plague has struck in Staufen:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/...4-09-09-95.jpg

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

https://i184.photobucket.com/albums/...3-13-44-14.jpg

Rather than make unilateral moves, I would have your thoughts on the matter which will then allow me to make the cuts that are necessary.

I believe it is obvious that all excess resources that can be gathered must be directed towards Italy. As we have already seen, the loss of these cities is crippling to the Imperial Treasury. Genoa now stands isolated and defenseless and a powerful French army is marching on it as we speak. Even if I were to march there with the remnants of my army, I would not be able to hold it. We thus face losing the last of our Italian cities and suffering a further blow to our income. If this happens, we may never recover.

I know there are few resources to spare, but we must find some way to fund recruitment. Perhaps destruction of all non-essential buildings across the Reich will allow for a full levy from both Innsbruck and Genoa. In truth, even this will be a stopgap measure. I believe that the fate of the Reich lies in the hands of Kaiser Elberhard and Freidrich Karolinger. God help us all.

Elberhard:

Count Karolinger is currently on reserve duty for a while, Lothar: as Duke perhaps you would wish to provide orders for the movement of his army? (Household Army Otto?)

As for my army, I am intending to strike Manouel of Zavarinikeia and then take the bridge to Venice. Unfortunately, I am not sure I will be able to get the city under siege this year. I would welcome any thoughts from Duke Lothar or others on alternative moves.

I would welcome the Chancellor's views - or anyone else's - about the best way to get the four spare regiments of Imperial knights to Swabia.

Kaiser Elberhard,

My answer depends on whether you believe you will need BHA Otto to aid you in attacking the armies around Venice. If you do not, I would prefer that it march west to aid me at Milan. Of course, that would only be possible if the route was clear. If it is not, I would prefer that it remain near you for safety. With Count Karolinger on reserve duty, I do not want to leave the fate of that army in battle to chance.

Arnold:

Kaiser, you're movements are what I would have requested.

I'm becoming somewhat less tolerant of politics and other issues that do not have any immediate result on our strategic situation. Therefore I'm not interested in sending those Imperial Knight all the way to Swabia but rather using them immediately in Northern Italy for maximum effect.

The various theater's of war are as follows:

Swabia is now fully defensive due to plague and no further income.

Franconia is also defensive until the siege in Magdeburg is resolved, therefore freeing it up to attack.

You have the ability to attack and so does von Kassel.

Austria also has the ability to attack which it will.

In essence the armies that can engage in offensive operations MUST do so immediately to alleviate our economic situation.

If troops die then I have no problem with it...our overheads must be reduced in some way and fighting is one of them.

I will therefore be recommending that both the Swabian and Franconia forces that are not under siege be placed in defensible but hopefully tempting positions for the French and Danish to attack. This will expend some of their forces against us and allow for a better offensive operations in the future. Additionally von Kassel can't simply sit in Palermo and wait. I will also be recommending that he leaves a token force there and marches into southern Italy.

We simply can not have any units unused at this time.

While there is no doubt that Bavaria needs aid as well, Swabia stands to lose two further counties this very year, namely Metz and Bruges. That would reduce Swabia to exactly Staufen, which is plague-ridden, and Bern. I believe that reinforcements of some kind, as emperor Elberhard has generously proposed, would be of aid to stop the French advance, because at this very moment, there is little hope of even waging a defensive war against France without any influx of heavy cavalry.

If Metz and Bruges fall this year, then the road to Frankfurt and Nuremburg is wide open. And we are all aware that our heartlands are almost completely undefended and would require even more time to be reinforced.

I would like to point out that if Genoa falls, Bavaria will consist only of the citadel at Innsbruck and even that settlement is threatened by a nearby Hungarian force. No Duchy is in a more dire situation than Bavaria.

Of course I am aware of the Bavarian plight, but as of now, both Genoa and Innsbruck stand unbesieged, while Bruges and Metz will likely fall to the French unless some miracle happens, leaving both Duchies with exactly two counties.

However, Swabia has less than 1 full army and Bavaria has two armies at her disposal.

I will not argue over who would be more deserving or who has absolutely greater need. Both Duchies are badly hit and could use some help.

That is absurd. First of all, I do not think Bruges is in any serious risk of falling. Ludwig von Bohmen is a capable commander and he has a large army to help him defend the city. The French forces that besiege him are not unusually highly experienced or otherwise advantaged in any exceptional manner. I expect Bruges to resist the siege and destroy the attacking force, thus limiting Swabia's only threat to the movements around Metz.

Furthermore, I do not know how you can possibly say that Bavaria has two armies at her disposal. BHA Gerhard has been all but destroyed and BHA Otto is the only significant force remaining in Bavaria. If you mean that the Kaiser's army counts as a Bavarian army, I should remind you that it is moving on Venice, which is an Austrian city, and is not earmarked to aid Milan or Genoa. Genoa will almost certainly be under siege by a powerful French army next year.

Furthermore, the Imperial Knights you are requesting are on foot and will take many years to reach Swabia. By the time they arrive, the issue will be decided there one way or another. In contrast, they can be of immediate assistance on the Italian front. It is simply absurd to send them to Swabia at this time.

We must cut the size of Household Armies that are in reserve and continue to have taxes high. I understand there are few reserve Household Armies, but we must be conservative nonetheless.

My Lords, Gentlemen,

Make your cases here and go ahead and commence your authorised attacks using the forces under your command (OOC: The save is open for any an all generals to take the initiative. I've taken screenies of the opening events so do as you please), once these have finished I'll then make the determinations I must as Chancellor.

I'm on the way to Ragusa as I write this so I shall be back with the 2nd AHA by the end of this season.

I have to point out at this time that there is no possible way I will authorise a 6 year trip for four regiments of DIK when they can be engaged in battle effectively right now...that simply will not happen at this time.

Likewise von Kassel will be ordered to leave whatever troops he deems necessary to defend Palermo and then proceed to the southern part of Italy to commence offensive actions down there.

If you're an army commander you better be productive right now or I will begin reducing regiments and allocating resources to commanders that can produce results immediately. The only exceptions are Swabia and Franconia. Although I am now loathed to use Staufen given the plague or to invest resources in war theater's which are deadlocked with the enemy.

Duke Steffen's recent actions are an example of what must be done to receive what little resources I maybe able to eek out of this situation.

The Chancellor.

A letter arrives from Outremer.

Quote:

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Kaiser Elberhard, Chancellor Arnold and my fellow Electors. It seems that the Greeks have left the way to Antioch open after the destruction of Captain Modestos and his men. I am dispatching Sir Andreas with a portion of the Army of Outremer, including Cannon, to retake the city. Once the city is taken, I will make my way, once again, to the Iron Bridge with the remainder of the army.

The reconquest has started. It may take a long time, but by God it has finally begun.

On the topic of reinforcements and expenses, I have suffecient men at the moment. Though if Antioch is taken it will need repairs and militia troops when the city can recruit them.

May God aid Duke Arnold in his duties. No Chancellor has faced such difficulties.

Viceroy Matthias

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Arnold:

I've spoken to Sir Andreas already Viceroy and he is cleared to proceed as you have planned.

God speed and good luck. Some good news is desperately needed. Might I also add that Fritz has done an impressive job near Hamburg.

Austria nobles:

I would ask Lord Zirn to split his forces as best as possible and attack the Hungarian half stack between him and Vienna and also send part of the 1st AHA to Vienna to assist in the defense of the siege which is surely about to begin.

I would also ask Lorzen Zirn to destroy the Polish forces near Zagreb!!!

Austria!! Attack now or we shall lose the initiative.

The Chancellor

Elberhard:

Chancellor, Electors, I present to you ... Venice.

She is but a shadow of her former self, with not even a functioning market. But she is still Venice, the love of my uncle Leopold and the most @#$%^&!!!ing beautiful city in the world.

In view of the losses my army is sustaining and the impracticality of transferring them to Swabia, I will retain command of the four spare regiments of dismounted Imperial knights for now. They guard the bridge to Venice as we speak.

In light of the formidable Byzantine army at Bologna, careful consideration must be given to the movement and command of Bavarian Household Army Otto. One of the bridges in North Italy would appear to be the most defensible location. And I wonder if young Hans von Bavaria should be assigned as an aide to Count Karolinger (who is on reserve duty) just in case? It might be wise for his Duke or the Chancellor to contact Hans to check on his availability.

Another letter arrives from Outremer, bearing the mark of Andreas von Salzgitter.

Quote:

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Gentlemen, Antioch has been retaken for about the loss of 40 spearmen. The Byzantines left it in bad shape, and many buildings need repaired. I would kindly ask permission of the Chancellor for taxes to be set to low if Matthias does not give instructions that forbid it. It is needed to keep the order here.

Also, loyal merchants, gladdened of our return, have donated a little over 1,000 florins to the Imperial Coffers. If at all possible, perhaps this could be spent on repairs or militia to guard the city and keep order.

Thank you for reading,
Andreas von Salzgitter, Crusader

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This is splendid news! With the recapture of Venice and Antioch, along with the possibility of saving Hamburg, our financial situation may turn around soon enough. If we can generate sufficient profit to recruit on at least two fronts at once, I believe we will be able to emerge from this situation victorious.

Indeed, brilliantly done Chancellor, you appear to be leading us to victory on nearly all fronts with minimal sacrifices!

(OOC: Err, Fritz is still in the field, so this doesn't make much sense, but after his 'thoughts' in the battle I felt guilty or something. :idea2: )

Fritz von Kastilien

:egypt: