Imperial Diet

[OverKnight]

OOC: Change mine to 1.15, I was in the middle of writing when Swordsmaster's post went up. And for some wonky reason I can't type in bold so I had to substitute asterisks, my apologies. It might be because I'm using the web browser at work.

[pevergreen]

My dear Bavarian friend, I think you are mistaken with your eagerness to ask Milan for an alliance. Milan and Venice are both alike, with qualities akin to each other. For if we take Florence, as we should, we will have two borders with Milan, and as they seem have more cities in northern italy than Venice, it would seem Venice is the weaker city state in Northern Italy.
In realisation of Milan's power to extend through the weak and divided France, I put foward another Edict to the Diet.

Edict 1.16 Recruit and send a spy to watch over Milan's progression.

This will allow us to judge when they are aggrivating their neighbours and give us time to strike.
(OOC: I really hate Milan)

[OverKnight]

Third Elector of Bavaria:

I realize a choice between Milan and Venice is like choosing between being drawn and quartered or the rack, but it is a choice, in the short term, we must make. Belive me, I wish the fires of Heaven would destroy them both.

If we *have* to ally with one, Milan, due to geography, is slightly less odious.

[Ituralde]

With an audible cough Conrad von Schüsselen rises from his seat in the Imperial Diet. His stern gaze encompasses the assembled nobles before he raises his voice to speak. He speaks not loudly and with a rough edge to his voice but still clear enough to be understood by anyone in the Diet.

Mein Kaiser, Dukes, fellow electors!

As you all know I recently followed our beloved Emperor into the pit of the lion that is Appenin peninsula nowadays. Those Langobard dogs think they can do as they like and have already gained acceptance by the wiry fool posing as god's representative in Rome. The Duchy of Milan the 'free' City of Venice and even the marauding Norman invaders of Sicily all cower behind their alleged faith to gain protection from the Pope who suddenly disapproves of Catholics fighting against each other now that he sees his powers in Italy dwindling and his chances to increase the size of God's kingdom on earth slimming.

I'm surprised no other elector has picked up on wise Emperor Heinrichs advice to expand in Italy also. It is of utmost importance that we do not tolerate the insolence by the Italian Duchies declaring their 'independence'. All of Italy will have to be brought back into the fold in due time, but for now I propose the following actions:

Edict 1.17: I firmly believe that the tentative powers the Duke of Milan has tried to establish over some Italian Cities can not be supported by the Reich. All diplomatic incursion with those money-loving dogs should be kept to a minimum. No requests for Trade rights, Maps or any other transactions shall meet our approval!

*cough* *cough* The elector raises a silk handkerchief to his mouth to stop a coughing fit that has overcome him as he has gotten more and more enraged during his speech against Milan. Small specks of blood can be seen as he wipes them from his mouth and puts the handkerchief back up his sleeve.
Once again composed and calm, he continues.

Edict 1.18: As a demonstration of our strength in Italy we should show them our power and seize the city of Florence. Its riches would make a fine addition to the Imperial coffers and show the Italians that the Empire will not sit by idly while the try to gain supremacy. Florence is as yet unalligned and will not be protected by the Pope, making it an ideal target.
As an afterthought, I'd like Florence to be assigned to the House of Austria, as such requests have become popular within the Diet, haven't they?

I will also second Edict 1.4. While I despise the Italians and their so-called 'freedom' as much as anyone here we can not afford a costly three-way war on the Apenin peninsular. An alliance with Venice would give us some security and buy us enough time to deal with the Milanese the Normans and finally Venice itself.

I see all other important edicts have already been seconded by a sufficient number.

Conrad von Schüsselen looks quite desinterested during his last sentence and finally sits back down.

[pevergreen]

Conrad, my good man, has the right idea men!

I second both Edicts he hath proposed.

Those vile Milanese should but taste the wrath of my blade, if my house were to expand southwards.

[SwordsMaster]

The fourth Kurfurst of Bavaria waits for silence. He stands among the nobles staring above the heads of the council.


The House of Bavaria seconds the choice of supporting Venice over Milan, and therefore edict 1.4.

I also support the thought of conquering Florence to limit the expansion of other italian factions. But, oh Kaiser, does it not make more sense to grant the italian lands to the House of Bavaria in order to mantain cohesion and better administer them?

Edict 1.18 is supported.

[Lucjan]

Raising a hand quietly and standing, Dietrich interrupts a slow murmur of arguements and inquiries surrounding the territorial disputes between the southern duchies.

Please, if everybody may take a moment to review the Imperial charter as it stands.

And I quote, section 4.3.

The Emperor controls the initial allocation of settlements (e.g. upon conquest).

Let us then backtrack to section 3.9.

The Imperial Diet is presided over by the Kaiser. His rulings are final.

Dietrich looks about the room, casting a nod to his fellow Franconian electors before clearing his throat and beginning again. This time in a rather tenuous tone.

It is, from my interpretation, that these are powers given solely to the Kaiser's will, and therefore not something that can be decided by the vote of the diet. While it is in every Ducal House's interest to pass "suggestions" along to the Kaiser in regards to the distribution of the Empire's lands, we must not forget that the Empire is first and foremost subject to the Kaiser's decisions. We exist to serve, and should not be so swift to forget that ours is a freedom that can easily be taken away. To suggest through the passing of such edicts that the diet has the power to encroach on the Kaiser's ability to make the best choices for the Empire is to insinuate that some positions of power are not fully understood.

I am also concerned that some of you have taken the idea that the diet can pass an edict on the manner in which our honorable dukes order the arrangement of their masons' construction queies. This too is incorrect, as only the duke or count of a territory can determine, for the rest of the chancellor's reign in which said individual ruled, the order of construction for that territory.

Dietrich, trying his best to keep it a neutral remark for the whole of the diet to be more cautious and respectful in their proposals, pauses for a few seconds, turning over in his mind the proper way to put his next statement.


Many of you are young. Many of you still have some time before you're given the full chance to prove your wisdom or mettle for the good of the empire. And in that I believe that perhaps some of your errors are simple matters of youthful misunderstanding. But you will all get it soon. It's a learning experience, and I urge you all to take this oppertunity to learn well.

Dietrich looks then to some of the more senior members of the diet to deliberate on this latest issue. As some quiet discussion between House members continues with no immediate elector standing, he continues on some other matters.

In regards to Venice. I can understand some unwillingness to seek an alliance with them, let alone any Italian state. And by no means did I mean to suggest that the Kaiser is not capable of defending the lands in Italy he's so honorably taken. My only concern was that without Venice as an ally, we would be extremely hard pressed to reinforce you were the states of Italy to come down on you as a whole. You are the life blood of this Empire my lord. To lose you would be a devestating blow. Besides, with Venice being as untrustworthy as it is, we may as well take advantage of their faults early on. Let them break the alliance as the houses more knowledgeable of Italy than myself suggest they will. In that way we are given a significant enough cassus belli to wage war against them with relative impunity. Even the Pope would have a hard time explaining why we should stop aggressive action against them if they break such an alliance.

But that is as far as I will take the matter. Italy is, in fact, moreso the expertise of our southern Dukes. I simply offer my council in good faith.

In regards to the Danube, some seem to have confused the Poles with Magyars...I suggested keeping an eye on Hungary (the Magyars), who border Austria on the east Danube border and have in days not long past caused significant trouble and destruction to the countryside with their raids. The suggestion of monitoring there movements from the river is so as to assure that such things are not allowed to happen again.

But since Poland has been brought up in the discussion, I must opt towards defending these people from any aggression on our part, and insist that we establish peaceful relations with them. I've had the honor of meeting some of these people bound westward in merchant caravans, and must say that they are far from the despicable sort of men that many of our other neighbors seem to be comprised of. Sure the Poles go by somewhat of an awkward name, but in the long run their friendship would be far more beneficial to the Empire than turning them into another enemy. Trade with them could bring in valuable goods from the east and provide us with a friendly counterbalance to the potential growth of Hungary or some of the other far eastern peoples we have all heard tales of. I for one would value these people as a friend, not include them in our ever growing list of potential enemies.

In that respect, I propose Edict 1.19 - By the end of this chancellor's term, a diplomat will be dispatched to open up trade with Poland and exchange map information.

On a final note, I do believe it is also the Kaiser's, and only the Kaiser's, right to determine who his daughter shall take as a husband. I must also force myself to assume that some members of the House of Austria forget that Agnes is indeed Leopold's sister, and that such an, arrangement, would not be in the best interests of either party, let alone the esteem of the Kaiser's family.

And thank you Kaiser Heinrich for extending my message. Dietrich finally clears his throat and sits down.

[OverKnight]

The Third Elector of Bavaria, Gunther of Eichstadt (OOC:No avatar but he needed a name other than TEoB), speaks to the assembly:

There is wisdom in the Steward's words. I second edict 1.19. It is similar but more specific than edict 1.14. Though I hope our diplomat could visit Buda as well.

While I do not trust Milan I will not support 1.17. We have a claim on Milan, but we are not in the position, yet, to fulfill it. The Empire needs trade, florins for troops and buildings. We can still send an agent, edict 1.16, if needed.

I share the concern of Lord Dietrich about edict 1.18, with no land access to our Italian holdings we cannot send reinforcements without angering the Duke of Milan or the Doge. But as the Kaiser himself is on hand, it is, of course, his decision whether to take Florence or not.

Finally, as I do not wish to enter into a debate over the charter or betray my youth, I withdraw edict 1.15. It had not been seconded anyway.

Thank you milords.

[Warluster]

ah, you are right Third Elector of Bavaria, I was in fact thinking of Hamburg, my apologys

[Warluster]

I also second the edicts you have put forward Second Elector Of Austria.
I have to agree that the Mialnese will somehow betray us, the Veneatians are more trustworthy, in some cases