Orders and reports thread

[econ21]

Steward’s report for 1304

My Lords,

The Kaiser sends news on the final outcome of his negotiations over re-unification with our Eastern Roman brothers:

Nobles, Electors, fellow Romans!

It is with much regret that I write you. The negotiations have gone on for far too long. A shimmer of hope has been seen on the horizon, but it was quickly crushed by the outrageous demands of our Allies.

The Byzantines are willing to accept that the Holy Roman Empire shall be ruled by Emperor Siegfried as Augustus, while Emperor Isaac will administer the Eastern part of the Empire as Caesar. The heir to this combined Empire will be the first born son of Emperor Siegfried and Empress Theodora. He will rule the Western and Eastern Roman Empire as sole Emperor.

In return the Byzantines ask that the current counties of the Reich be divided between East and West coherently. This means that all regions within Outremer will fall to Caesar Isaac until both Empires are reunited under the first born son of Emperor Siegfried.

After long and hard deliberations I have decided to agree to their request. While it pains me to give away such a large part of our Empire it will seal the reunion of the Roman Empire and re-establish our rightful place as ruler not only of all Romans but of all Christians as well.

I will leave for Rome as soon as possible to face the consequences of my decision in front of the Diet. I can only hope that you are able to see beyond the immediate loss, the shimmer of a new age dawning on the horizon.

Emperor Siegfried

Just as the Kaiser sets out to return from Constantinople to Rome, the traitor Peter von Kastilien is marching to attack that great city. Although I have tasked the Kaiser’s Army under Duke Hans to catch the traitors, it is clear that he will not intercept them before they reach the Bosphorous. I hope that the Kaiser will be able to find a route that avoids the traitor’s reach. Duke Arnold has authorised Count Becker’s AHA1 to divert from Bucharest to assist Duke Hans in intercepting the traitors before they kill our Kaiser or start a war with our greatest allies.

Meanwhile, in our cities, the poisonous teachings of Alexander Luther have been causing riots in several settlements throughout the Reich - specifically, Genoa and Damascus. As reported to the Diet, we have lost the great cathedral in Damascus, the Genoa cathedral, a church in Stettin and a chapel in Acre. These outrages have made our relations with the Papacy abysmal and the Holy Father will not suffer the name of the Reich to be mentioned in his presence. May God have mercy on the rioters’ souls for committing these sacrilegious acts.

The rest of the year’s events can be summarised as follows:

Swabia: SHA1 under Count Hummel cleared the French from around Paris, allowing a relief force be sent to assist the besieged citadel of Caen, should it be assaulted. France has been excommunicated, giving us a freer hand.

Austria: AHA2 under Duke Arnold has seized Krakow after an exhausting struggle. AHA1 under Count Becker has taken Bucharest. However, the Pope has ordered us to cease hostilities against the Poles and the Hungarians on pain of excommunication.

Bavaria: Household Army Gerhard is approaching rebels west of Milan. Household Army Otto is still travelling by sea to Durazzo.

Franconia: Duke Ansehelm has arrived at Thorn with the ex-Teutonic Crusade, frightening away the Russian besiegers. The Saxon army under Count Fritz von Kastilien has routed a Danish army.


Steward Elberhard