TroG Parliament

**Innocentius** · 02-24-2007, 11:13

Solely for in-character political discussions (and votings) for the MTW PBM The Republic of Genoa.

**Kavhan Isbul** · 03-01-2007, 18:16

Dear Members of Parliament,

Consul Gregorio II has not yet returned from his last trading expedition in the Levant, and his son, Prince Gregorio, is still not mature yet to fully substitute his father. While we wait for the return of our chosen leader, our enemies, the treacherous Venetians, are mobilizing their forces and the famous general, Bohemond de Tankerville, has been moved in Milano, close to our border. At the same time the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor are also looking upon our city and our possessions with envy and greed, and it is apparent that we are surrounded by enemies. It is imperative therefore that we attend to all pressing matters in the absence of our Consul Gregorio II. Here is the agenda for this session of the Parliament:

1. Province distribution

2. Gold distribution

3. Troop distribution

4. Foreign Policy

Every member of Parliament can submit proposals on the above points, which we will then take a vote on, with each member counting for one vote with the exception of our Chancellor, Innocentius, whose vote will count for two doe to the importance of his office.

**Kavhan Isbul** · 03-01-2007, 19:03

I have been unable to meet with my cousin Rythmic of Pisa, also a representative of the house of Doria, but here is what my house proposes on the 4 points.

1. Wasp of Ajaccio to receive Corsica in exchange for the promise to maintain a unit of Urban militia for the Republic by 1095. It is a poor island and we cannot ask for more.
Gunslinger of Cagliari to receive Sardinia in exchange for the promise to build the necessary structures for the production of galleys and other war vessels, which are so important in our attempt to protect our trading fleets and our ports from Norman, Venetian, Greek and Muslim corsairs. In return for Sardinia Gunslinger will agree to build a dock by 1110 and then provide one galley to the Republic every 10 years, but the Republic shall be responsible for the repair of the ships and the wages of the ships' captains and sailors.
Rythmic and Isbulino Doria to receive Tuscany in exchange for the promise to train and support two units of Urban militia by 1095, and a unit of spearmen by 1100.
Finally, in the absence of Gregorio II, Genoa shall be governed by the Chancellor Innocentius, until Prince Gregorio matures and can substitute his father.

2. Each house to get 1,000 florints, or 1/4 of the Republic's Coffers.

3. For simplicity, each house to take control over the units, currently in its province.

4. Not to engage in any hostilities until Prince Gregorio matures or Consul Gregorio II returns, as we do not have any distinguished military commanders. In the meantime to accept all alliance proposals from fellow Catholics, especially our neighbors, avoiding agreements with the Infidels and the Schismatics. We know that the Venetians are not trustworthy, but an alliance with them will secure one of our land borders, so I suggest that we send our emissary to the Doge to ask for alliance. The Emperor appears to be under the wrong impression that our City and all of Liguria and Tuscany belong to him, and therefore an agreement with him will be hard to reach.

I kindly ask all members to vote on the above proposals (my vote is of course yes to all).

**Innocentius** · 03-01-2007, 19:31

Chancellor Innocentius of Firenze remains seated but speaks aloud.

I agree with Isbulino Doria on the three first suggestions. However, I must remind you all that the lands of Napoli lay open to us. These lands are held by the Greeks of Constantinople and are well-known for supporting corsairs. Also, should we not take these lands quickly enough, I assure you that the Normans of Sicily will claim them instead and the Normans are even less trustworthy than the Greeks. Leaving a potentional naval base open to our enemies might be risky. However I will not give any final answer to this matter as I have yet to hear of the Consul's wish.

**Warmaster Horus** · 03-01-2007, 19:51

A boy, still in his teenage years and sitting in a chair next to the Consul's seat, confers with his mentor and his Father's advisor. After a few minutes, the Prince Gregorio speaks, hesitantly at first, using an old introductory phrase.

Members of the Genoese Parliament, Great Men of the Republic, I Prince Gregorio salute you all humbly. I do not speak officialy, but just wish to convey my thoughts upon these matters.
I agree with Isbulino Doria's first three proposals. However I suggest we also attempt to forge an alliance with the Papacy. I feel that since we are a catholic republic, we should have the best possible relation to the Holy See.
These are in NO way my Father's wishes however. I have had no contact with him for many months now. If one of you has knowledge of his situation, I bid you to speak.

**Kavhan Isbul** · 03-01-2007, 20:02

Isbulino Doria raises and prepers to hold a long speech, later to be known as Isbulino Doria's Speach on Naples

Chancellor Innocentius, Your Highness Prince Gregorio, well respected members of the Parliament, if Consul Gregorio II is to return, then I shall respect any of his decisions regarding the Republic's foreign policy. In his absence though, we still need to decide on certain pressign matters.
As Chancellor Innocentius has pointed out, Naples holds huge importance. It controls the southern part of our peninsula - fertile farmlands and rich trading cities. It will give us an opportunity to prevent the Normans, the Venetians or the Pope to expand in that direction, slowing down these potential enemies' progress. And last but not least, it is easy to take and will give us a great base where troops can be trained.
However, I need to point out that simply because the Greeks are weak and the province easy to take, it does not mean that it will be easy to defend. Our fleet cannot protect all the seas surrounding the southern part of the peninsula, and even if it were, the Pope can still attack us by land. Some of you will be quick to point out that such an attack from the Holy Father is unlikely, but while this is true, we cannot entirely dismiss a conflict with the Vatican and if such a conflict is to ever brak out, we will find ourselves in war with the rest of the Christian World, as all Christian Kings will take the Pope's side. Furhtermore, the treacherous Normans and Venetians might decide to start a war over Naples with us, causing great damage to our trade. The Pope, who as I already pointed out himself has ambitions to extend his rule south of Rome, is likely to take the side of our enemies and threaten us with excommunication. This is why my house believes that Naples will require a large investment for a small immediate return, and is best left to the Greeks as it is, at least until we are able to muster a larger force and fleet and secure a few key alliances.
If in the meantime one of our enemies is to take Naples, this is likely to lead to a war between the power that gains control of the province and the other two of our neighbors. As long as the Papacy is involved in the war, it is almost certain that either the Normans or the Venetians will get excommunicated, leading to an opportunity for us to attack them from behind, getting easy victories as their main forces are engaged with one another or the forces of the Pope, and gain provinces more valuable than Naples, such as Milan, Venice and Sicily. Who knows, in a war between the Normans and the Pope, the former may even conquer Rome, and we may gain Naples from the Holy Father in return from liberating his lands from his enemies, and other provinces on top of that.
It might be more opportunistic for our Republic to grow richer from trade, in the meantime increasing our navy and our armies, and wait for the Naples Question to evolve into a war between our enemies, and get involved in the hostilities once our enemies' armies are depleted.

At the same time, my house is in full support of a punitive expedition against the Schismatics. We just think that Crete or other islands in the Eastern Mediterranean are a better target, as it can be protected by our fllet with only small dejma garrison in Khandia and it will give our Republic a great base on our way to the Black Sea and the Holy Land, where great opportunites for trading and gaining wealth exist.

**Warmaster Horus** · 03-01-2007, 21:23

Honorable Isbulino, I agree with your House's idea about the Naples Question. Waiting seems the best option.
I must however disagree with a 'punitive expedition' as you suggest. It would require financial support; which may be given somewhere else. But if Venice, the Papacy or Sicily decide to attack the Byzantine Empire, we should then and only then strike at one of the Isles. For now we must grow, economically.