Imperial Diet

[econ21]

Prinz Henry: I would like to inform your noble lords that all the edicts currently proposed have been listed at the front of the Diet building (post #1). Where edicts already have two seconders, additional seconders have not been listed.

I would like to support Cardinal Scherer and second motion 2.8. In fact, I would like to go further. I believe more priests should be recruited to accompany the Cardinal and Eusebius von der Pfalz. Unlike Count Dietrich, I do not wish to cast aspersions on the ability of these two men of the cloth. The Cardinal is an inspirational figure and having met Eusebius, I can testify that the young man has a quite remarkable air of purity and goodness. But to convert a whole province of pagans is a mammoth task and I believe it requires more than a couple of men of the cloth to achieve in a reasonable time frame. When Stettin has seen the light, I am sure we could find employment elsewhere for our missionaries. My own attention has been drawn to the Holy Land and believe the day may soon come when men of the cloth can no longer abide the occupation of our most sacred sites to infidels.

I would suggest to Cardinal Scherer that he ammend his edict to include an instruction that at least two more priests should be trained and sent to accompany him and Eusebius.

[OOC: Priests get good traits if they convert non-Catholics quickly; more priests in a province means a faster rate of conversion and more chance of picking up good traits.]

More generally, I wish to support my father's proposed course of action for the second half of his term as Chancellor. I do not wish to see us embroiled in major wars without just cause. Given our central and dominant role in Europe, I fear war will find us soon enough anyway. When it does, if we are not entangled in an existing conflict with a major faction, we will be much more able to respond vigorously. While a move east does not favour my own House, Swabia, I see the logic in it - the road west is currently blocked by Milan at Dijon and the Danes at Antwerp.

I must study the other proposed edicts more carefully, but on first glance none causes me great displeasure.

[TinCow]

Cardinal Scherer, there is no doubt that you are a good and pious man. Your concerns for all of God's children are admirable and are worthy of high praise. Furthermore, your statements about Bern and Stettin are insightful beyond measure.

However, I am exceedingly disturbed by your statements regarding the Papal Usurper! *Mandorf spits on the ground and crosses himself.* The rightful Pope?! Since before the time of Constantine, the Pope was elected by pious and honorable men such as those who sit here in this very room. This was as God willed it and it cannot be otherwise.

Antipope Gregory, in an attempt to seize earthy power beyond that decreed to him by God, refuted this most sacred and holy of traditions and removed the entire body of Christianity from their divinely given right of choosing the Pope! In the place of this most just electorate, he gave the power to his own sycophants in Rome, ensuring that future tyrants like him would be placed on the Highest Throne. In his wisdom, Kaiser Heinrich initially opposed this injustice with all of his most righteous power. It was only due to the rebellion of many, now deceased, traitors to the Reich, that his attempts to restore the rightful order was thwarted.

We stand now, faced with this continued Satanic Tyranny... *Mandorf crosses himself again* ...that grows in Rome. Antipope Gregory has aligned himself against God and the Reich, for we are His chosen defenders on Earth! Your own statements show the Usurper's evil intents.

You say that if we attack Milan first, Gregory will support them instead of us. How true this is! *Mandorf begins to sweat profusely, his arms flailing around in wild gestures* Have you not forgotten that the Milanese have rebelled and thrown off the rightful rule of Kaiser Heinrich? The Antipope supports them because he wishes to gain dominion over all Italy as a step towards tyrannical control over all Christendom! The Milanese dogs are but a tool of Satan to be wielded against our most righteous Lord. If we bow our heads and submit to this unholy order, we too shall be doomed to burn for all eternity! It is our divinely ordained mission to destroy the Usurper and return the Papal throne to God!

*Mandorf sits down and wipes his brow with a handkerchief. For several minutes he continues to mutter quietly to himself.*

[Lucjan]

Brother Henry, I don't mean to cast an aspersion on any good man of the cloth, I'm just looking to his good health and the health of those he preaches to. I have no doubts about his purity or good intentions, I'm just concerned for his well being.

[econ21]

Prinz Henry: On a procedural point, no closing date has yet been set for this Diet. In keeping with our practice of allowing three days for deliberation, we will close tonight at midnight (UK time). There will then be a 24 hour period of voting.

Electors who govern settlements should make sure they have posted build queues for the next Diet (10 turns) by midnight tomorrow.

[OverKnight]

Otto von Kassel again rises to speak:

My fellow Electors, the good Cardinal has spoken sensibly, I second edict 2.8. If Peter wishes to change the edict in light of the Prinz's comments, I will still support it.

Otto pauses and rubs his temples with one hand:

As for the legitimacy of the current Pope. . .I try to stay away from the internal workings of the church. Yet our empire has had a special relationship with Rome since Pope Leo crowned Charlemagne Emperor. Without the Pope we would not be a Holy or Roman empire, but without us the Pope would still be under the Lombard or Saracen yoke.

The investiture controversy has made relations with the Papacy worse, but are they irreparable? Pope Gregory is one man, he, like all men, shall die. Should we endanger our centuries old relationship with the Church for one man? I am just a soldier, I do not have the answers to these questions.

But the Pope, legitimate or not, has power. If we are excommunicated, the other Catholic nations of Europe will fall upon us, eager for any excuse for open war. Other nations will look upon us as we look upon Stettin, heathens and heretics who must be brought into the Lord's light. And if they loot, or burn, or pillage or set themselves up as rulers over us then it is God's will, or so they shall see it. For now, at least, we must be cautious in our dealings with Pope Gregory. We must continue the work of edict 1.1.

Otto pauses, speaking on religious matters has made him uncomfortable, he continues on a different topic:

This Diet session has only has a day left by my reckoning. I have reviewed the edicts proposed so far and my guess is, if passed, implementing them will only require about half of the Kaiser's next term! What is to be done then? Inactivity is a folly! Sleep is for the dead!

The Kaiser spoke of his plans in his report, but the Diet awaits his direction in this session. Please mein Kaiser, what are your thoughts? And if anyone else has edicts in mind you should speak now!

Otto takes his seat, glances over at his fellow Bavarian Electors, and again rubs his temples.

OOC: Edited to add more exclamation points.

[Kagemusha]

Fifth Elector of Swabia stands up and speaks:

"Mighty Kaiser, When i travelled here from Swabia i noticed the lack of watchtowers and patrols inside the Reich. Shouldnt we keep the Reich safe from bandits and know who are travelling inside the Empire?Therefore i propose:

Edict 2.9. Building of Watchtowers on strategig locations inside the reich.

Swabian Elector nods and sits down.

[Lucjan]

I find myself in agreement with the fifth Swabian elector. Keeping the reich from rebellion and heresy means keeping an eye on our lands. I second edicts 2.9, and, in the same spirit, propose edict 2.10 - The construction of watchtowers at strategic points on all our foreign borders should be accomplished whenever the extra funds and nobility are available to carry out these endeavours.