Imperial Messenger Service

[econ21]

IMPERIAL SUCCESSION

I, Kaiser Elberhard, do hereby name PETER VON KASTILIEN as my successor as Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire and its present Prinz.

The passing of my beloved brother has reminded me of my own mortality and also of the perils of an absence of central authority. As I set sail for Europe, I cannot leave Outremer without first naming my successor should anything ill befall me.

All Electors know that I regarded Peter von Kastilien as a rebel, a traitor and a warmonger. I do not pretend that those differences did not exist or that we now think as one mind. However, the infamy of the Byzantines in exterminating Rome and Bologna have removed the main cause of disagreement - our opinion of the character of those "people".

But Peter von Kastilien committed one act that redeemed him in my eyes - he surrendered. Yes, it may seem a strange deed to prize in a war leader, the ability to surrender. But rather than sacrifice German blood in a fratricidal battle, Peter von Kastilien surrendered to Imperial authority when intercepted on his march to Constantinople.

He showed the same self-restraint later when he marched on Metz. He was in a position to decisively swing the civil war in Swabia, but he merely reasserted proper authority over the city and turned back to his Franconia to battle our external enemies. Whatever enmity he felt towards my late brother was over-ridened by his desire to keep the Reich strong and whole.

I believe the strength of character that Peter has shown makes him ideally placed to be Prinz and future Kaiser. As does, perversely, his political opposition to me earlier in my reign. I know many of you, like Peter, have disagreed with my decisions in the past. By appointing Peter Prinz, I hope to signal my wish for the Reich to forget old differences and work together a fresh.

As Duke of Franconia, Peter already has considerable authority among many of our Electors. His pointed neutrality in the Swabian conflict should make him acceptable to the feuding Electors there. And I believe neither Austria nor Bavaria has ill feeling towards him.

I will be setting sail within the year and will be out of communication. Peter as Prinz will represent Imperial interests and authority in my absence. I urge all Electors to show him the respect and deference his new position commands.

We are coming to the end of a trying time. I am sad that I cannot immediately join in your trials and I wish you every success. Fight hard, but fight wisely. Learn from the example of Bern and above all SURVIVE. When I make landfall, we will set about reconvening the Diet and when we work together the situation may radically improve. Until then, hang in and don't let the @#$%^&!!!ers bring you down!


Kaiser Elberhard

[AussieGiant]

Kaiser,

Before you leave Outremer, I'd suggest landing a reconnaissance party before sending in the full army and exposing yourself. I'd say the only southern port under our rule when you arrive will be Ragusa, and even that I can not guarantee.

Duke Arnold.

[gibsonsg91921]

A Message from Peter von Kastilien:

I accept the role of Prinz during these troubled times. However, in honor of the challenge imposed upon myself and indirectly by my late friend Jan von Hamburg, I shall never refer to myself as Prinz, or Duke, or eventually, hopefully after many years, Kaiser, but still serve the functions dutifully.

Also, Peter von Kastilien offers amnesty to the "Principality of Swabia," all of its inhabitants, Wolfgang Hummel, Jan von der Pfalz, and Ludwig von Bohmen. The "Principality" shall become the Duchy of Flanders, effectively creating a fifth House to our noble Reich. To obtain this grace, they must not attack a single loyal member of the Holy Roman Empire ever again, as Kaiser Elberhard has dictated.

Upon the next Diet session, should the Reich return to normality in time for its scheduled occurence in 1340, its members must swear loyalty to the Reich and to the Kaiser. Wolfgang Hummel must also apologize to Duke Athalwolf von Salza of Swabia for attacking his men to become Duke of Flanders. Should he fail to do so, he forfeits control of the Duchy and can never be its Duke. Upon apology, Wolfgang Hummel will be the first Duke of Flanders.

At the next Diet session, the Duchy of Flanders shall officially be granted Bruges, its capital, Antwerp, and Caen, when it is returned to Imperial hands. It will function from then on like any other historical House of the Reich.

Yours,

Peter von Kastilien

[GeneralHankerchief]

A message to the Electors of the Reich, from Alexander Luther

I am alive. I have fled the terrible Battle of Bern, survived, and am currently located far from the ravages of war. Do not try to find me. It would be a folly to do so, and frankly, there are better things that all of you could be doing.

From my hideout I have observed the Reich suffer greatly. As you all have probably surmised, we are in trouble; in danger of falling. We may blame this on whomever we wish - my personal grievances still lie with Kaiser Siegfried and his harebrained policy of reunification with the blaspheming Byzantines - but at this point it is like locking the stable door after the horse has left the barn. We're here, and we must deal with it.

I admit that I am at least partially to blame for the situation we find ourselves in at the moment. While I have only been teaching the Word of the Lord, my teachings have been quite un...Orthodox, no pun intended. At times my followers have done more than I have advocated, namely the destruction of the various churches and their participation in the War of Reformation that currently stews, both at Donauworth and elsewhere.

The whole point of Lutheranism is to see the people of the world have a more individual relationship with the Lord; to interact with Him on a more personal level. I was always against the idea of some Papal shaman or Byzantine Patriarch handing out orders made up out of nowhere. What makes him so special that only he can communicate with the Lord? No one's faith should have to depend on others. Yet, I fear that this is exactly the path we are embarking on. Unless a miracle happens, the Reich's people will forever doomed to be ruled by other, inferior Europeans, and will be made to listen to some French Pope or Greek Patriarch. Then, we are all doomed, in this life as well as the next.

One of the many things I learned at Bern was my ability to recruit an army, and quickly. The error was using that army against fellow Germans. Dietrich von Dassel, God rest his soul, claimed that the sooner he united Swabia, the sooner he could focus on driving out the enemy but the war just kept on going. I figure I can still raise an army. I figure that, if I, a religious leader, attach myself to another one of the Holy Roman Empire's mighty generals, legions of religious folk ready to defend their country and their faith to the end will quickly rise up and assist in defeating the invaders.

I offer myself up to you. Any general that wants me can have me. Send a message via this Service; it will reach me. I will then contact you privately.

However, I am not stupid. I will not go to those who have fought against Lutherans in the past in the name of Catholicism or the supporters of Hans, who sought to have me burned at the stake. I must be reasonably certain of your good intentions: namely, to use me to help recruit people to drive out the invaders and reclaim the Reich. If you use me and my men against fellow Germans, I will leave, as will my men. I have already survived one terrible battle that pitted German against German, and have no desire to see another one. Also, be advised that my presence will probably anger Catholics in the area and the War of Reformation may intensify where I am at.

I want the Reich united. I want the Reich strong again. At this point I will do anything to help. In 1340 at the Diet Session I will be present and negotiate with Kaiser Elberhard, probably the leading Catholic figure in the Reich now, to end the terrible War of Reformation eating us all, should he wish to receive me. These negotiations will be, of course, public.

Remember, if you desire my services, use the Imperial Messenger Service. It will get to me.

God save you all.

[Zim]

From Count Jan van der Pfalz, to Alexander Luther,

Your intention to use your considerable influence to help drive out the foreingers from the Reich intrigues me.

I am the newly appointed Count of Antwerp. Although I support my Prinz Wolfgang Hummel in his conflicts with other Germans, the task appointed to me by him is to drive the foreigners from Flanders. Bruges has already fallen to the French, while neighboring Franconia is threatened by the Danes. My intent is to drive both out of Imperial lands.

Things are grim in my lands, with foreign enemies on both borders. I lack the wealth and resources to raise an army capable of beating back the French and Danes, but am a capable general. If you wish put your abilities to use against the enemies that threaten the Reich, I would be honored if you would join with me in that task.

If this sounds good to you, please contact me,
Count Jan von der Pfalz

[Ramses II CP]

Along the same distribution as previous:

Reward rescinded for information leading to the location of Alexander Luther. Cease all such efforts immediately, no profit can come from them.

Fritz von Kastilien, Scourge of Stockholm

To Luther:

Franconia would welcome your assistance in these troubled times Father Luther. Know that where I, Fritz von Kastilien, am present you are both welcome, safe, and guaranteed to see no battles against men of the Reich. Franconia has been under heavy assault by the forces of the so called Catholic Alliance and I hope to be the spearhead that breaks that alliance and reveals it for the thin, petty sham we all know it is. Come here and serve under my Duke and brother, Peter, and we will bring the word of God to the ears of the people even as we bring the sword of truth down on the foreign oppressors of the Reich!

I know you will hunger to serve against the Byzantines to repay them for their foul lies, but they are not leading armies against the heart of the Holy Roman Empire and their defeat will not secure our homelands. What we need, more even than your ability to call up faithful men at arms, is your command of truth in the spoken word. Something must shatter the bonds that let Danes, Poles, Frenchmen, Venetians, Russians, and Byzantines all turn aside from their ordinairy mutually destructive behavior and unite against us.

I believe your words and a revelation of the depths of Byzantine treachery may well be the best weapon you could weild.

I look forward to welcoming you to Franconia!

Fritz von Kastilien

[Privateerkev]

To Alexander Luther,

This is Alfgarda von Hamburg, wife of Jan von Hamburg. If you are truly interested in helping the Reich, then taming the tensions you helped exacerbate would be more useful then stirring them more.

I could invoke my late husband's name and try to raise an army as well. But I have learned from my husband's mistakes where you have not seemed to have learned from yours.

I am saddened at how quick some are willing to take you up on your offer of exacerbating religious tension.

If you truly have the interest of the Reich at heart, then I implore you to use your considerable influence to calm down your followers, instead of raising an army. I pledge to do the same with Catholics. Together we might actually be able to do some good.

Both parties in this religious conflict could not help but take notice if you and I joined forces. So, I do call upon you to join me. Not to make war, but to make peace.

Sincerely,
Alfgarda von Hamburg