Imperial Diet

[Ituralde]

Conrad von Schüsselen had not been seen a lot in the Diet during the recent years. Rumours had it that his illness has weakened him further and fits of coughing accompanied by seizures have troubled the Elector of late.
As he stands before the Diet now he has to support himself on an elaboratly carved waling stick. His voice has grown thinner, but his gaze is as austere as ever. He has to clear his throat noisily before he speaks:

Dear Kaiser, Dukes, Electors!

He bows deeply.

Let me congratulate our beloved Emperor for his successful reign as Chancellor so far. With the help of our valued Nobles we were able to secure many a settlement that had been lost during our recent struggles. I firmly beleive that this man will bring the Reich back to its former glory giving his antecessors a huge powerbase to work with. Once more the Holy Roman Empire will extend its influence over all Christians!

It may not come as a surprise to you that I can agree with the intentions of the Swabian elector, as I share his hatred against the Milanese. Alas, I don't beleive his strategy to be the wisest choice though. As he rightfully mentions Milan can boast no strong fortifications, yet! Already their troops are marching through Swiss passing the castle of Bern on their way to Dijon. By all means we must not allow them to get control of this castle. Leave Dijon to worry our French neighbours, I say, but let's concentrate on splitting the Milanese in half by capturing Bern castle. This will make all further moves against the Milanes much easier for us.

I propose Edict 2.2: Send Sigismund to capture Bern castle. His attack on Metz has proven his valour and strategic skill, surely Bern will pose no obstacle for him.

Now, to come to our Emperors midterm report I noticed some issues that should be adressed by this Assembly.

I have to agree with Heinrich that we should follow our Council of Nobles suggestion and take Breslau as soon as possible. This will bolster our borders against the Polish and the florins will be much needed for our treasury.

I propose Edict 2.3: Besiege and Take Breslau within the time frame set by our Council of Nobles.

There are also some things I have to disagree though. We should under no circumstances break our word against the Venetians. I have said before that we should not give our word away lighty. We have agreed to ally with Venice and should stand by that word and not take the first opportunity to break it to statisfy our need for Italien riches. The greed of this Assembly appals me sometimes.
Let us wait instead, those treacherour dogs will sheme against us soon enough giving us reaon enough to strike at their lands.

Thereby I propose Edict 2.4: The Alliance with Venice is not to be broken, unless a dire reason is supplied by the Venetians.

Another matter I would like to bring to the attention of this Assembly is the allocation of settlements done by our wise Emperor. It seems though that he has overlooked the services the House of Austria has done for the Empire in not granting us a single fiefdom. Duke Leopold is besieging Prague as we speak and still our Emperor grants Italian lands to the Bavarians. Have they not already two fiefdoms under their control? Even were the House of Austria to combine with the House of Swabia we still would only control as much land as Bavaria controls now.
I see that other Diet suggestions have been followed by our Emperor and Metz and Hamburg have been assigned to Swabia and Franconia respectively. Why has Florence not been given to Austria too?
It may seem that our House is willingly held back from the glory it could achieve. I'm saddened by these events and can only hope that Heinrich will reconsider.

Conrad von Schüsselen looks around the Assembly, his look a mix of sadness and defiance, before settling down.

[pevergreen]

You, my dear cousin, would believe this Diet is greedy? Shame on thou!

We have-eth trouble in these troubled times in providing buildings to keep our people alive, and yet you complain of greed! I am doing my part for the community, visiting far out towns, and paying for pleasure girls. I enjoy those community trips!

I formally Second Edict 2.1, 2,2 and 2.3

Ah, 'tis good to be back!
Lothar steps down and wanders around greeting friends.

[TinCow]

I agree with the Second Elector of Austria's sentiments on the strategic importance of capturing Bern prior to any actions against the Milanese. The castle is an important choke-point in the Alps and it will prevent any counter-strokes against the Reich, as well as provide an additional recruitment base for our armies.

However, I cannot second this motion as it is worded. It has not gone unnoticed in the House of Bavaria that all other houses have been granted military commands. Yet to this day, no Bavarian elector has been given the honor of such a distinction. This is not an insult as it stands, as the use of Franconian electors in the north, Swabian electors in the west, and Austrian electors in the east is certainly of the best strategic sense. However, with Bern so close to Bavarian territory and military commands having been denied to Bavarian electors, any march on Bern without a Bavarian in command cannot be seen as anything but a direct insult to our House.

As I am sure this is not the intention of the Kaiser nor the Diet, I propose a more properly worded edict:

Edict 2.5: Bern is to be taken before the end of the current Chancellorship. A Bavarian elector will be given command of the army assaulting Bern.

Regarding the disposition of territories, it seems clear to me from the Kaiser's former statements and the current strategic situation that the lack of a provincial assignment to Austria is entirely due to the delay in taking Prague. Given the previously expressed geographic preferences of the Kaiser, Prague could surely not go to any other House than Austria. It is thus worth noting that it is due to the Duke of Austria's own caution in assaulting the city, that it is not yet available for distribution to your most noble House.

Furthermore, while the province of Bolognia is welcomed by the House of Bavaria, it is a largely empty gesture. It is not currently contiguous with our lands, we have no way to support it, and we have no elector available to govern it. Thus, Bolognia provides absolutely nothing to the House of Bavaria at this time.

However, given our lack of commands, the House of Bavaria understand the concerns of the House of Austria and is sympathetic to them. We will support all reasonable efforts that the House of Austria puts forward to ensure that they receive an equitable distribution of lands. Let us not let the independant actions of the Kaiser create a wall between us. Bavaria and Austria have always been friends and it is our desire to strength this bond, not weaken it. We will need the combined strength of both our Houses to deal with the Italians and the Papal Usurper.

[OverKnight]

Mein Kaiser, Prinz Henry, and my fellow Electors.

I will second edict 2.5. I am grateful and honored that the Kaiser has placed Bologna under the rule of Bavaria, but we must prove ourselves worthy of this gift on the field of battle! The other houses have shown their valor in crushing rebels for the Reich and I am most eager for Bavaria to join them!

I assume my good friend Conrad von Schusslen proposed edict 2.2 to keep the newest member of the royal family occupied so that he would not march on Dijon, as Sigismund sought in edict 2.1. South rather than west, eh Conrad? Still, I will second edict 2.4. I would like not to be known as an oath-breaker. But I have already spoken about my views on our alliance with Venice in the Diet and will not bore you repeating them.

Now, if we are to talk of war with Milan, wouldn't we need an edict for a declaration of war? The Kaiser has also proposed that we cancel our treaty with Venice and seize their lagoon city for our own. War with them would also require an edict. I do not believe the time is ripe for war against either of the merchant states, much less both of them. They shall be ours, but the remaining rebel settlements on our borders should come first! If we do not take them, someone else will! I second edict 2.3 and I propose:

edict 2.6: Besiege Stettin as soon as possible, and assault it within 20 years (10 turns).

We should pluck the lowest fruit left on the tree before climbing to the higher branches.

Thank you my lords.

Edit: [OOC] I proposed a duplicate edict for Breslau.

[Lucjan]

"It is good to see our electors so eager to engage themselves once again in the Diet proceedings." Dietrich, making his way to the center of the Diet floor from his seat and rubbing his chin in contemplation, took a deep breathe as he looked around the room. It was strange being back in the Diet not just as an elector, but as a member of the royal house. His marriage to Agnes had elevated his station, but he stood among these men as equals, and as he looked about the room full of familiar faces, he smiled. "And it is good to see so much enthusiasm in guiding the Reich towards the greatter glory of the future, but I must urge caution in our pursuits from this point onward. We are now bordered on all sides by Kingdoms who, for all intents and purposes, have the same goals in mind for their people as we do for ours. So, I feel I should put forth my strategic review of the situation as we stand now, before making any comment or suggestion of edicts.

Firstly, in the south. I believe that while we have secured the necessary settlements in northern Italy to make our claim to the peninsula a valid one. We do not yet have a significantly favorable enough standing in the eyes of the Pope to blatantly declare war on Milan without incurring gruelling trials that accompany an excommunication. Milan is Christian and Italian, therefore, the Pope has every reason to be dually sympathetic to their cause, and not ours.

While we're on the topic of Italy, it has also come to my attention that a band of brigands are causing unrest south of Florence. Before any options can be considered to expand our position in Italy, we must make sure our position there is secure. Doing this means quashing rebellion before it spreads, and making sure that our rule is recognized as law, not suggestions.

In regards to Venice, and essentially edict 2.4, I must express both praise and reservations in with this proposal. It would wholy irresponsible to place the Reich in such a position as to be the betrayers of this treaty. We would see excommunication faster this way than by waging open war on Milan. I must agree that our word should not be given lightly. We are the leaders of the Christian world are we not? Then let us set an example. We must maintain our alliance with Venice until they break it. Let them take the fall for a move we have long anticipated. However, I cannot support this edict in it's current form because it advocates ourselves breaking the treaty in a "dire" circumstance. Proper maneouvering and use of the careful eye we've established to watch Venice will negate the potential existance of any such circumstance. If this edict is alterred to advocate only retaliatory action against Venice once they have broken the treaty, it will have my full unmitigated support.

Further west, we come to the question of Bern. Well, I feel there is actually little question here. There are many here who want Milan back under the Reich's authority, and antagonizing them by taking Bern before them may well be the way to starting that war without sullying our own good name. I have advocated the conquest of Bern anyway for simple strategic reasons. As for Bavaria leading the charge, I see no reason why brother Otto or Steward Mandorf should not be given the chance to prove their mettle. Therefore, I second edict 2.5.

To our most noble House of Austria and the situations in Prague and Breslau, I think Leopold's err on the side of caution may have been for the best. It will give us more time to bring reinforcements to Prague to keep the peace while the good Duke himself moves on after Prague's fall to extend the Reich's reach to Breslau.

As far as the north goes, I must continue to urge calm in regards to the Poles. There are many here that would try to paint these people in the same light as the Italian fetchers to our south, but there is no man here who knows more about these people than I. It is, after all, Franconia who bears the border with these people, and my f... Dietrich's voice trails off, as if he were going to say something then stopped. He shakes his head and continues.

I must propose an alliance with these people to maintain that we are not beset on all sides by war because of simple misinterpretations that could otherwise have been avoided. Therefore, I set out edict 2.7, an alliance should be offered to Poland as soon as possible.

Securing an alliance with these people will secure our position in the east against the Magyars and these Russians we're hearing stories of in the north, as well as giving us a friend in our ever growing sea of potential enemies.

I must draw attention to the Danes though. Those slimy sea snakes have used their longboats to circumvent the land block taking Hamburg provided against their expansion and they've landed in the low countries. Word has it that Antwerp has fallen to their raiders. A close eye must be kept on them, and work must be done to take Stettin before they can surround Hamburg on both sides. While this does deal with edict 2.6, I feel this edict does not push the urgency of the situation enough to truly represent our needs in the north. If the wording were changed to conquer Stettin as soon as possible with my proposed force, it would have my full support. By my calculations, Stettin could be secured with little effort, and our information reports that the Danes have no significant force of any kind within many years march of Hamburg, leaving the castle in no potential danger during this expedition.

I would require the following forces to accompany me and my retinue to take Stettin within the next 10 years (5 turns). Two regiments of mailed knights, these already available at Hamburg, four regiments of peasants, two of which are already available at Hamburg, and three regiments of mounted sargeants. This is an easy take gentlemen, do not overlook this oppertunity to stifle Denmark's growth and gain ourself the most lucrative potential trading hub in the Baltic. Converting Stettin to a city would net us huge profits in the Baltic sea trade.

There may be some question as to my request for large amounts of cavalry. The answer is simple. Swift deployment. Franconia is considerably isolated from the other houses and surrounded by potential enemies. We must have a force capable of rapid deployment from Hamburg that could reach Stettin or Frankfurt in swift time should the need arise. A rapidly deployable cavalry army would give us exactly the kind of force we would need to relieve any potential siege to Stettin, Frankfurt, or Hamburg. And you all know my affinity for cavalry command. I do not disappoint.

This action would, to show that I am not naive and overly trustworthy of the Poles, also allow us to surround Magdeburg in all aspects of the word pending the fall of Prague and Stettin, while Breslau would be a boon too, it is not mandatory to the encirclement of Magdeburg. I must reiterate the trust I have for the Poles, but I am not foolish enough to not have a strategy in case worse comes to worse.

May I also remind this Diet that any edict passed to conquer a rebel settlement becomes null and void if that settlement is taken by another power first. A direct declaration of war must be passed in the diet session to instigate a war on any of our neighbors with one exception. Our noble houses may declare war on any foreign forces they deem to be entering our territory on a mission of conquest without the approval of the diet. This, of course, being for emergency measures.

Dietrich nods to the Diet as he finishes his speach but stops halfway back to his chair.

"Oh, and one more thing. Could somebody be so kind as to send a learned physician to Frankfurt? There's a priest there by the name of Eusebius von der Pfalz who seems to be afflicted with a rather peculiar deformation. Quite frankly I'm not too fond of going anywhere near the man, who knows if it's catchy." Dietrich returns to his seat, patting his chest on the way with a rather disturbed look. He shudders as he sits.

[Ituralde]

Conrad raises quickly after Dietrich von Saxony has spoken and raises a finger.

I may have voiced some of my Edicts not as clear as I had intended.
Edict 2.4 was meant to entail that any aggression against Venice should be started by them. I'm sorry if my description of 'dire reasons' has led to confusion. I think we are of one mind here Dietrich.

Also the army command for Sigismund should not be mandatory and I can fully understand the House of Bavaria's desire to prove their worth on the battlefield. I will second Edict 2.5. Still Edict 2.2 will remain to be seconded, I would not want to curtail the House of Swabia on this matter.

I trust the House of Franconia in judging the North and the Danes and will therefor second any Edict Dietrich proposes for a swift taking of Stettin.
Concerning the Poles I will have to discuss this with my advisors, as Austria seems to be entangled in the East now where my own knowledge is scarce ,rather than Italy.

[Ignoramus]

Count Sigismund again rises to his feet.

I am pleased that our Bavarian friends are eager for battle, but surely if we intended to strike at Milan we would send them to conquer that city itself, rather than sit at the walls of Bern. For, if we leave the Milanese to themselves they will wax stronger, and that we cannot allow. Therefore, I humbly urge this Diet to attack Milan with all haste.

As of my opinion on the edicts that have been proposed so far:

Edict 2.1: I have decided to withdraw this edict, bowing to the superior wisdom of others. I realise that though a threat, Dijon is not as important as some other towns and castles.

Edict 2.2: I will only second this edict if the Diet thinks that I am the right noble to conquer Bern.

Edict 2.3: This is a sensible edict, and as such I second it.

Edict 2.4: For shame, noble electors! Would we treat our own word so lightly? Where is our honour? I cannot support such a shameful deed, and I am apalled that anyone honourable should support it.

Edict 2.5: Again, I must refrain from seconding my edict until later in this session.

Edict 2.6: Another sensible edict; Stettin is a valuable Baltic port and yet again thrawts the attempts of the Danes.

Edict 2.7: Perhaps we ought to wait a while, lest the Poles try to prevent us taking Breslau and Stettin.