My fellow Germans,

This letter is being sent to every settlement in the Reich, as well as every noble.

I come to you in a time of great peril to ask you for your help. Events are going on in Europe that I can not ignore any longer. First off, let me introduce myself.

I am Jan von Hamburg, son of Fredericus von Hamburg. Veteran of the Second and Third Crusades. King of Outremer for 44 years. I have spent my adult life defending the Holy Lands and protecting a Papal Jerusalem. I have served the Reich, the Kaiser, and the Lord faithfully. And I am not happy.

I am not happy because I see a Reich torn apart by religious division. I watched as Alexander Luther poisoned the minds of many good people. One of them is Dietrich von Dassel who, with Luther at his side, murdered Pope Abbate, exterminated the city of Durazzo, and got the entire Reich excommunicated.

I have recently learned that my nephew has aggressively negotiated with the Papacy in order to get us reconciled. Now it is time for his uncle to finish the job. I intend to confront Dassel and Luther and bring them both to justice. Why such a strong stance against these two individuals you ask?

Because they represent a particularly violent strain of Lutheranism. Alexander Luther advocates violence, as even a cursory glance of On The Byzantines and Their Lies will show. Dassel has proven particularly malleable and receptive of these teachings, as his past brutal actions have shown.

Now this is not intended to alarm Lutherans who have remained peaceful. Nor those who loyally serve the Reich. But Lutherans who rebel against their fellow Germans need to be shown the full weight of the law. As a member of the Diet, I can assure you that your leadership saw the Lutheran menace coming. And we did nothing. We were afraid. Or we did not find it politically expedient. Duke Lothar and Duke Arnold could have done more to stop Dassel from killing the Holy Father but they refused, for their own reasons.

From among the Dukes, only Duke Hans has remained a loyal Catholic through all of this. And it is Duke Hans that is in most need of help. For Dassel and Luther have now set their sights on the Swabian Duchy. Afraid of what will happen to him at the next Diet, Dassel has decided to make himself above the law by usurping the Ducal throne. While Dassel is currently under siege in Bern, I do not believe that Duke Hans can take the city without horrible losses.

This is unacceptable. I intend to immediately join in the Swabian Civil War on the side of Duke Hans, rightful and legal Duke of Swabia. And I need your help. I need an army of Catholics to help me save the Reich from violent Lutheranism. I know you are out there, a silent majority. I know you are scared and discontent. I know you crave leadership.

Well, I am here to give you that leadership. I have left everything I cared for, a job I swore an oath to, and a duty I dedicated my life to, in order to come here and serve you. For I believe this is the struggle of our time. And I believe it is time that we all let it be known where we stand. And I stand on the side of God.

It was hoped by your leaders, that this whole Lutheran thing was just a phase and would blow over. Or, that everyone could co-exist peacefully. But, events in Donauwörth have proven that the more violent elements of Lutheranism will not let that happen. Since they can not gain primacy as the one true interpretation of the Word, they are instead trying to usurp political power.

So I put out a call. To all of the faithful. To the masses. To the veterans of our past great Crusades. To the Teutonic Order. To anyone who wishes for this darkness to end. Join me!

Together we can steer the Reich in a better direction.

Catholic Soldiers of the Reich, Unite!!!