Conseil du Royaume

[OverKnight]

Reeves hands a slip of parchment to Hugues and whispers something to him.

Really? Hmm.

Hugues speaks to the Conseil.

I am afraid amendment 1.2 would diminish the power of the King. As it stands now, only the King can unilaterally decide to declare war or not outside of a Conseil session as clearly spelled out in the Charter:

(6) Can declare war on any faction at any time, for any reason.

This amendment would allow any noble the ability to start a war with any Muslim faction if they came within arms reach. Anyone could grab a cog, land their personal retinue in Africa or Granada and start their own war right away.

Surely we trust the wisdom of the King more than the average noble when it comes to the timing and implementation of a declaration of war?

I am afraid I cannot support such a weakening of the King's power.

Edit: Also, Reeves has updated the list of Legislation again.

*Edict 1.1: No recruitment of any kind will be allowed in towns or castles that do not have at least a small church or chapel and either farms (OOC : lvl 1) or a grain exchange. However, if a foreign nation (OOC: "Rebels" do not qualify as "foreign nation")would declare war or would commit an act of war against the Royaume of France, the current Edict will become null and void and there will be no restrictions on recruitment until all wars with foreign nations are ended.
  Proposed: King Philippe
  Seconded: Prince Louis, Simon de Montpierre

*Edict 1.2: Brigandry is is not to be tolerated, and as such all rebel settlements bordering the nation of France are to be brought under her rule.
  Proposed: Prince Louis
  Seconded: Christophe de Perronne, King Philippe

*Edict 1.3: The Seneshal will recruit three clergymen to spread the faith in our regions and reduce the Heretics that plague our country.
  Proposed: Simon de Montpierre
  Seconded: Alexandre Le Sueur, Raynaud de Xaintrailles

Edict 1.4: Mercenary crossbowmen and spearmen will be recruited Immediately to aid Thomas de Saint-Amand in capturing Metz.
  Proposed: Bertin de Montsault
  Seconded:

*Edict 1.5: The Seneschal is instructed to begin assembling generals and men necessary for a Crusade with a target of Cordoba (This is a declaration of war against the Moors). By the end of his term, the Crusade is to have officially set out for its target. The Seneschal is to work toward granting the Pope’s approval for this Holy mission, but the Crusade will begin with or without his blessing. The King is to endeavor to evenly distribute captured Moorish settlements among the Houses.
  Proposed: Raynaud de Xaintrailles
  Seconded: Prince Louis, Thierry de Rochefort

Edict 1.6: Should an army be sent to bring the Comte de Flandres back into the Regnum Francorum, it must be lead by a Burgundian.
  Proposed: Gaspard de Neufville
  Seconded:

*Edict 1.7: At least one diplomat will be recruited and sent to Spain and Portugal to negociate an alliance and military access.
  Proposed: King Philippe
  Seconded: Raymond de Provence, Simon de Montpierre

Edict 1.8: The Kingdom of France shall immediately secure an alliance with the Kingdom of Scotland. A diplomat shall be hired immediately to secure this alliance. The diplomat shall remained in [adjacent] the Scottish capital for perpetuity.
*Edict 1.8.1: The Kingdom of France shall immediately secure an alliance with the Kingdom of Scotland. A diplomat shall be hired immediately to secure this alliance. The diplomat will remain, at most, one season's ride away from the Scottish capital.
  Proposed: Gontran de Linars
  Seconded: Raynaud de Xaintrailles, Christophe de Perronne

Edict 1.9: No land may be purchased off the English for the duration of this Seneschal's term.
  Proposed: Gaspard de Neufville
  Seconded:

*Edict 1.10: The Seneschal will strive to buy Angers from the English during his term and at the earliest opportunity. The Princess Constance may be sent to parlay with the English but no later than three seasons (OOC 3 turns) when she will make her way to Rome. If no accord has been reached then, a diplomat will be recruited for that purpose. This edict will take precedence over Edicts 1.7 and 1.8. Once Angers is bought, the diplomat will either be sent south or north according to Edicts 1.7 or 1.8.
  Proposed: King Philippe
  Seconded: Hugues de Champagne, Prince Louis

*Amendment 1.1: The maximum number of priests available at any time will have to be recruited by the appointed Seneschal at the time, provided enough funds are available. That recruitment shall be done prior to any other recruitment. This amendment can be temporarily suspended if all French settlements (home territory or conquests) are above 90% Catholic.
  Proposed: King Philippe
  Seconded: Raymond de Provence, Hermant Mauvoisin

Amendment 1.2: The nation of France does not acknowledge the authority or existence of heathen nations. As such no diplomatic agreements of any kind are permitted with Muslim factions, and no official declaration of war is necessary before attacking a Muslim faction's armies, fleets, or cities.
  Proposed: Prince Louis
  Seconded: Raynaud de Xaintrailles

[KnightnDay]

Thomas rises and bows to the price before speaking to the conseil.

"Most respectfully, Highness, I am compelled to agree with the Duc. Not only is the power of the king diminished by such an amendment, it still further deprives him the right to hear from this conseil the opinions regarding such acts. Insofar as he has willed that we meet together to advise in matters of the state and not presume his intentions, it would be inappropriate to favor such legislation as has been proposed. To accord me or indeed any man here, the authority to make war with the Sultan of the Moors, the Turks, and the Egyptian Pharaoh without consent of those empowered to govern is a dangerous notion that weakens us all."

[Ramses II CP]

The Prince nods thoughtfully in regard to these points before turning to the King,

Mon Pere I would hear your opinion of the matter. If you wish it I will withdraw or alter the amendment, but I do believe it to be of considerable importance that we refrain from making treaties with the heathens. Can we all agree that this latter should be the case, even if we wish to protect the King's power to declare war?

[Cecil XIX]

Indeed, the logic behind Amendment 1.2 is sound.

However, my Prince, I must protest your speaking to my vassal directly in such a way. He is not under your authority, and when any complaints travel through the fuedal tree they should go through all layers.

[AussieGiant]

Both eyebrows are raised rather quickly at the recent discussions. The Duc seems torn between speaking and holding his tongue. This plays quite expressively across his face and draws the attention of his poodle Medoc.

The great hound tilts its head inquisitively as it tries to determine just what is going on in his masters brain. Finally the boyish Duke stands:

"If ze proposed amendment from ze Dauphin limited its scope to everything but war, zen I believe zis would solve ze conundrum."

Medoc barks an agreement.

[Vladimir]

*Gontran's head pokes up*

Surely we cannot trade with these Muslim heathens. Their savage and barbarous actions set our ancestors back hundreds of years. I cannot, in good conscious, trade a single florin with those who pillaged the bulb of the fleur de lys.

Any act of aggression on their behalf should count as an act of war. I believe the amendment should be modified to reflect this.