Imperial Diet

[lilirishman1986]

death to the Venetians is all well and good but consider the need for income from these cities at the same time... death should only be considered if our Venetian slaves fail us

[OverKnight]

Fourth Elector, I realize the severe punishment we will inflict on Venice might impact the money we will get from the city, but there are considerations besides florins. The Venetians betrayed our alliance, attempted to assault Vienna multiple times, and briefly took Bologna from us. Such insolent oath-breaking deserves a heavy reprisal. I can think of no better way to show the Doge this, than by laying waste to his capital, the foul lair of these vipers.

This will also serve notice to our enemies, those thinking of attacking us, such as France, and even neutral or allied countries, that war with the Reich will only result in death and ruin for them.

The more practical aspects of edict 5.30 are that, once occupied, we will need less troops to garrison Venice, freeing up forces to assist against the Milanese outside Florence, or continuing the assault on the Doge's forces in Zagreb or Ragusa. With the Ducal armies amendment likely to pass, campaign troops will be at a premium while the household armies are being formed.

Yes, the loss of population will effect the economy of Venice, however the buildings and facilities that fuel it will be intact. Good German settlers will replace the vanquished and the city will be prosperous again in a short time.

I consider a short term loss of Florins in exchange for long term stability, strategic flexibility and a resounding message of the superiority of the Reich, a more than fair trade.

[econ21]

Prinz Henry: Extermination of a city is an act of barbarism that should never be countenanced. To recommend it as a form of crowd control is a particularly heinous argument - next we will be arguing that we should kill our old or sick because they take too much food.

Electors - the common people of Venice cannot be blamed for the villainy of their leaders! The men who decided to break their oathe will all be gone from the city by the time we enter - the only ones left will be the ordinary, powerless, people who lack the means to flee our advance, just as they lacked the means to control their craven rulers.

Aside from being an atrocity in itself, extermination will undermine the reputation of our Empire and stain my father's character as a chivalric ruler. To target Venice for this punishment is particularly foolish, given the large income its citizens can obtain from seaborne trade.

I plead with you, are we not a Christian nation? Have we learned nothing from the first coming of our Lord? If by His grace, we obtain stewardship of Venice, we must rule according to His laws or risk His wrath by defying them! To deliberately and cold-bloodedly massacre thousands of Christian men, women and children will be a terrible stain on our character and conscience. All men of piety must reject this monstrous proposal!

[OverKnight]

The Venetians have been excommunicated, Prinz Henry, and so are outside the protection of the Church. They are oath-breakers and must be broken themselves.

Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius.

I apologize for my Latin, it is rusty, the translation is "Kill them all. God will know His own".

[TinCow]

No Christian babe is ever outside the protection of God, even if his Lord has been excommunicated. Extermination of innocent Christian women and children is a crime against the Heavens themselves. If you wish to kill the unarmed, perhaps you should take up the Cross and march eastwards. There are many heathens there that you can put to the sword without incurring the wrath of God.

[lilirishman1986]

I retract my statement condemning the elimination of excess population within Venice. We will indeed save money via the elimination of a larger garrison. In regards to the death of innocents that Mandorf says are protected by god i say "Neca eos omnes. Deus suos agnoscet", Kill them all. God will recognize his own.

[nazgul3]

We should show no mercy to those heathens. They are outside of Gods favor for a reason and should be taught a lesson.