Seneschal's and Nobles' Reports

[OverKnight]

Seneschal's Emergency Report for 1101

The Legislation that has emerged from the Emergency Session is a bit of a muddle. Allow me to present the passed Edicts along with the Edicts still in effect from 1095.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Edict 2.2: No further attacks are to be made on the Reich for the next Senechal term and suitable negotiations will be held with the Kaiser to regain a state of neutrality. Defending against attacks from the Reich doesn't impinge on this Edict..Should the Reich be excommunicated, the present edict will be void and agressive action will be authorized on all Imperial assets. If any provinces should be acquired in this fashion, they will be considered ratified.

Edict 2.3: A diplomat will be sent to Rome at the earliest opportunity. It is important that we build back the best of relations with the Holy Father, in the wake of his threat of excommunication.

Edict 2.4: A treaty will be signed with Guillaume of England concerning the return to the French crown of the settlements of Caen and Angers. Negotiations will be held also for the return of Bordeaux.

Edict 2.5: The next Seneshal will send at least three priests to Cordoba, where they will spread Christianity.

Edict 2.6: If Caen, Angers or Bordeaux are acquired during this term they shall be considered ratified and an integral part of the Realm.

Edict 2.7: During the next Seneschal's term, a port is to be constructed in either Bretagne(Rennes), Flandres(Bruges), or Brabant(Antwerp)

Edict 2.8: No armies under French command (OOC : under the command of an ingame avatar or an ingame avatar) shall cross the borders into Norman (English) lands for the duration of the King's truce, which is to be ended only by direct declaration from the King. The Seneschal shall be required to immediately disband the armies of any general who violates this Edict. Said edict will be suspended if the Seneschal successfully negociates military access or an alliance with England , and while that agreement lasts.

Edict 2.10: An alliance with England shall not be authorized, negotiated or accepted.

Edict E1.5: Since the entire Kingdom will bear the burden of this war and the German one, no House will recieve more than one province from any lands taken from the English.

Edict E1.6: Should war be declared with England in this session, Edict 2.8 is hereby considered null and void and Prince Louis's army near Bordeaux is not to be disbanded in violation of the aforementioned Edict.

Edict E1.8: The council pledges on honour and oath to God that upon the recapturing of our lands in France from the English and cessation of active campaigning thereof, we pledge to approach the Pope and request a Crusade against the Moors. The exact target province to be decided by normal council vote.

Edict E1.9: All English prisoners are to be released and all cities and castles taken from the English will be occupied.

Edict E1.10: During the war with England, all efforts shall be made to recapture the French settlements of Bordeaux and Angers and capture the city of London or any other English city upon which the Crusade is called or in which Guillaume (OOC : William for you English speakers) found asylum and until he is either captured, killed or reconciled. All settlements captured following the terms of this Edict are to be considered ratified.

A few things I wish to reinforce from these results:

There is currently no state of war with England. There will not be one until the King sees fit to declare war, and I remind the Conseil that no one else has that authority. This means that until we are at war at with England, Prince Louis and his army are in violation of Edict 2.8. However, I will not enforce it at this time, as I don't think my head would look good on a pike. I would suggest that the Dauphin withdraw back to his own lands. Surely a suggestion only qualifies for a light flogging, no?

A Crusade has not been declared at this time. Edit: Please see the addendum below. A clear mandate for a Crusade or its target did not emerge from the Emergency Session. Edict E1.3 was defeated, leaving much of the organization and finances of any Crusade in doubt. Edict E1.10 mentions a Crusade against the English, but seems to focus more on war aims. Edict E1.8 calls for a Crusade against the Moors, but only after hostilities with France have ended.

What I take from the above is this: I reserve the right to have a Crusade called against the English once we are at war. Having no clear guidance from the Edicts, the final call for the target of the Crusade is my own. However, since I will have to consult with the King and Conseil over organizing, manning and financing a Crusade this will no doubt be a matter of some debate and negotiation. Punishing the English and bringing King William divine Justice are noble goals, but bankrupting the Realm doing it is not acceptable.

I must remind everyone that Thierry de Rochefort and Alexander la Sueur remain in England. They have moved for this season and remain two seasons' movement from leaving the island. There are mercenary forces in the area, but they would be expensive, recruiting all of them would wipe out all our income for the year, not even considering prioritizations (the Prince has 4 queued I believe). Also earlier in my term, the English had four full armies in Ireland. Some of them may now be near York or any other place outside our view. Even with all the mercenaries in the area, the nobles of Bretagne could face terrible odds with their backs to the sea.

Our lone spy near Bruges will be reversing direction and scouting out England, looking for William. This will take time as well. I understand everyone is in a great rush, but if we strike rashly, events could turn against us very quickly.

With these considerations, the save is now open again (We'll be proceeding from Northnovas's save).