Dynasty
PRELUDE
My name is Arnold of Graetia. I am Benedictine of the Friary Opatowitz and I am going to report some weird events for the glorification of the Lord and as warning for all living.
The roots of my tale go back to a period of disarrangement and dispute among the Christian fold. The Antichrist, whose arrival is getting closer and closer, had managed to disunite the two leaders of the Imperium Christianum, the Vicarius Iesu Chrsiti and the Romanorum Imperator. A dark period indeed, known as Interregnum, began in the year of the Lord 1245 when Pontifex Innocent IV deposed the Romanorum Imperator Friedrich II. Heinrich Raspe became counter-emperor, but he died A.D. 1246.
Wilhelm von Holland became counter-emperor in 1247. And although Friedrich died A.D. 1250, it took until 1254 that Wilhelm was accepted as emperor – and he also died in 1256. When there was no one left to claim to be emperor, the prince-electors came together to elect the new emperor. There were seven electors and two candidates - Alfons von Kastilien and Richard von Cornwall. Everybody expected that the council would end the Interregnum. However, Ottokar II, King of Bohemia and one of the seven electors gave his vote for both candidates – in return for money. And so there were two emperors, again, and the confusion continued.
In this period of disorder, everybody quested for his own benefit. Princes tried to increase their influence; cities fought against their masters, knights converted from law enforcers to robber barons. The strong ones trusted in their strength instead of the law and the weak ones suffered.
A man of honor with a strong will and a strong arm could make his fortune and so did Ottokar, King of Bohemia. With the death of Friedrich II of Austria A.D. 1246, the line of the Babenberger went extinct and for a period of several decades the status of the Duchy of Austria was disputed. With artfulness and violence, Ottokar finally gained control of the duchies of Austria, Styria and Carinthia. At this point, he was the most powerful prince elector and natural aspirant of the throne of the Holy Roman Empire.
In 1273, several electors tried to install a new emperor to end the Interregnum. Maybe they were annoyed because of Ottokar’s attitude at the last election or they were simply because of his ambitions, the electors met together with Heinrich von Niederbayern, who took Ottokar’s position in the council and in October 1273 the electors agreed on a new candidate: Rudolf von Habsburg.
A strange choice in deed, as Rudolf did not seem to have any talent to rule the Holy Roman Empire. Although an experienced military leader, Rudolf was inexperienced in diplomacy and he was already 55 years old. Many speculated that his failings were the reason for his election.
Needless to say that Ottokar did not recognize the result of the election.
However, Rudolf quickly strengthened his position. He promised to organize a new crusade – what he never did - and received the approval of the Pope, who was finally tired of the dispute, too.
Rudolf also reinstalled the old order and passed a law that all territorial changes during the Interregnum had to be undone. Ottokar was supposed to give back the provinces of the Babenberger and to accept his own kingdom as a fiefdom from Rudolf.
Ottokar was request to declare his position at the Imperial Council of Augsburg AD 1275. He sent his agent, Werner von Marsbach, the Bishop of Sackau. Werner attitude at the council was so provoking, that the Council declared, that all of Ottokar’s estates subrogate to the crown, while Ottokar was under the Bann of the Empire.
During this time, Rudolf demonstrated his diplomatic skills. With strategic marriages he formed alliances with the Dukes Meinhard and Albrecht of Tyrol and the King of Hungary Ladislaus IV. Rudolf also gained support of Phillip von Spannheim and the Bishops of Regensburg and Passau and the Archbishop Friedrich of Salzburg. Friedrich began to court for the support of the Austrian peers, which were unhappy with Ottokar’s rule. This was too much for Ottokar and he attacked Salzburg.
Rudolf managed to get the support of the Archbishops of Cologne, who anathematized Ottokar.
But I wander from the subject.
Rudolf’s strategy became clear when the King of Bohemia started his campaign with the support of his only ally, the Markgraf von Brandenburg. The peers of Kärnten, Krain and Steiermark backslided Ottokar. Hereupon, Rudolf changed the direction of his advance and moved quickly to the Duchy of Austria to gain the Austrian peers. Before this he had made an agreement with Heinrich von Niederbayern, a former supporter of Ottokar, so that Rudolf’s army could move by ship along the Danube. The Austrian cities and abbey welcomed Rudolf, who marched much faster than expected. He took Linz, Enns, Ybbs and Tulln without a fight. Ottokar expected, that the siege of the strong Klosterneuburg would stop the advance of his opponent, but Ludwig von Oberbayern took the town with artfulness. Rudulf hurried on and laid siege on Vienna. At the same time. Ottokar was still at the area of the Marchfeld. He could not prevent the backsliding of all Austrian peers. Further more Bohemian peers were on arms against him and the King of Hungary seized Ödenburg.
Ottokar’s situation was hopeless and he had to negotiate with Rudolf. In the following he lost all Austrian provinces and had to take the Bohemian kingdom as a fiefdom from Rudolf.
This is going to be another type of interactive history - a high speed, quickstep one.
Rules are simple:
Everyone can jump in and play and jump out again at any time!
I post a chapter which ends with different options. You can decide - the third post decides!!!
Just as simple as that!
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Drone
Bookmarks