Conseil du Royaume

[Ignoramus]

Turning to Gaetan, Gaspard begins to respond.

"If we did as you suggested, and sent our men south, we would cause immediate war with the Holy Roman Empire, something which we are not ready not equipped to face. I am sure you would see reason in maintaining friendly relations with our brothers to the east.

I have no qualms about Lorraine being restored to your Duc, but may I ask why are you so eager to claim Flandres as well? Such a result would could the Duchie de Bourgogne to become a mere backwater, unless war were to break out with our neighbours to the east. Something which I consider most unlikely to occur for a long time.

Gaspard resumes his seat.

[ULC]

Gatean shrugs.

"I suggested you send them south, but necessarily to Provence itself. As to Flanders, again, you would gain nothing from sending yourself there, to a holding a province you could not easily reinforce, and in the process, limit the Duchy or Lorraine in the process unless we instigated war. It would not solve any issues, and yet make more."

[GeneralHankerchief]

Raynaud de Xaintrailles:

The Castillians are incompetent and flawed. It is evident, judging by the continued Mohammedan existence on the Iberian peninsula that the Castillians have not been fit for the Lord's favor for quite some time. Indeed, it is only through His mercy and utter disgust for the other residents of the Peninsula that they continue to exist at all, even in the weakened and pathetic state they are in.

No, it will be for the good of everybody involved (save for the Moors, but they are not worth discussing unless it is in the manner of the most efficient way of sending them straight to Hell) if a truly blessed and just nation purges the menace from Iberia.

[OverKnight]

Hugues sighs.

Well before we get to caught up in who gets what, and who should march on what and what not, it is the sole right of the King to decide which, if any, Duchy a newly conquered territory goes to.

As for the Duc de Bretagne and his candidacy for Seneschal, I wish him well. I'd rather be beaten in a melee again than push all that paper.

[AussieGiant]

Frowning to himself and then nodding in agreement at de Champagne's last words Alain stands.

"Yes, well ze expected land grabbing discussions 'ave materialise, I am also guilty of such obvious ploys and apologies to ze King."

He bows towards Philippe and then nods towards Louis.

"While we certainly need to have plans in place, the strength of our foes is such that consolidation and patience is required. Given this would be my approach if I was to be elected Seneschal, I would caution my fellow nobles here on wording edicts that restrict this strategy."

Turning to Raynaud with a far more entertaining look.

"de Xaintrailles, I am a religious man, but calling for a Crusade at zis time is like trying to rodger one to many girl in ze brothel. While it might be enjoyable it is not resources well spent.

To do it wizout ze Pope's blessing would seem even less enjoyable."

[Andres]

Funny to see how the chivalrous ones don't wish to go on a noble crusade and the others do. Maybe the concept chivalrous should be reviewed or there's some hypocrisy going on.

Allthough I couldn't care less about Muslim heathens, it seems to me that our resources are a bit limited at the moment.

On the other hand, before we can rebuild the heathen settlements into decent Catholic ones and start converting the infidel scum, we have to destroy everything that even smells heathen.

If there would come an addition to the Edict about the Crusade on Cordoba dictating that all muslim settlements on the way to Cordoba have to be captured during the Crusade, are to be sacked and all buildings have to be destroyed, then I'd say the Crusade will pay itself. Under such conditions, I could agree with a frivolous adventure in the South.

I'd even like to take part in the fun, if my Duke and the English dogs in Caen and Bordeaux would allow me.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Raynaud de Xaintrailles:

Indeed, that was my intention. There is no purpose of a purge if it is not thoroughly executed. If you like, I will modify my edict to make this clear.

[Ignoramus]

Gaspard de Neufville rises to give his opinion on the Crusades.

I would only support a Crusade against the Moors if the conquered lands were placed under the rule of Leon. Any other action would be opportunistic, rather than motivated by sincere and pious motives.

A Crusade to the Holy Land, however, would need to be governed by the nobles who won the land, for there are no other Christian states to govern them.

[Andres]

Raynaud de Xaintrailles:

Indeed, that was my intention. There is no purpose of a purge if it is not thoroughly executed. If you like, I will modify my edict to make this clear.

Maybe you should, because if it passes as it is now, we risk some "chivalrous" types leading a crusading army and ruining our economy. And getting themselves killed by the "honorably" released captives.

I'd add that all captured prisoners need to be hanged.

They're heathens anyway, so who cares?