Imperial Diet IV

[AussieGiant]

Rising to speak after Ansehelm report Arnold begins pacing the Diet floor

Lord Ansehelm ,

I entirely agree with your general outline. I was not talking about taking Krakow until the next Diet session as we have standing legislation preventing that.

My timing was not clear and therefore I was not clear. By the time of the next Diet session I'm more than sure I will have retaken Budapest and will be in a position to take a closer look at Krakow.

At a strategic level, what I see is Krakow holding a position slightly too far South for the Franconia's to deal with and likewise slightly too far north for the my own Austrian House to easily deal with.

As you state Ansehelm, if Austria or Franconia take Krakow it will pull us too far from our central front to adequately defend it well.

Your thoughts on the BHA and its potential usage are intriguing. With the final island taken by the next Diet session the BHA would be relatively task free.

The Sicilian’s have been allies for longer than I can remember so I do not see them suddenly committing such a suicidal act as attacking us from the southern tip of the Italian peninsula.

Our southern border would potentially not need much protection.

There is much to ponder and certainly the idea of two house armies is gaining a legitimate momentum given our extended borders.

[Stig]

Ansehelm who just sat down rises again

I would agree to two household armies per house, but I would say that these secondary armies should be small and non offensive. Franconia could use one to defend Hamburg, and would Austria take Krakow it could use one to station there. Swabia is quite small and only has one front, so for them there's little use in such an army. And the Bavarian secondary army could defend Bavaria while it's household army helps other houses.
This is definitely worth an edict in my opinion

[AussieGiant]

Looking over at Ansehelm, Arnold says

Certainly a defensive half stack force of high quality troops such as DFK, Sergeant Spearmen and Crossbowmen with one unit of Horse plus the number two ranked House General would be ideal.

This could also be an intermediate position for the next House Duke for future commanding of the Household Army.

These holding forces could then allow the House Armies greater freedom.

[OverKnight]

Matthias paces the Diet chamber like a caged animal. He stops to speak:

If I am not to take ship to the Holy Land, then what am I doing still in Bologna's port?

I have been the Crusader Count of Adana for eight years and I have yet to leave Italy, or even receive marching orders in four!

If a passage to Outremer is impossible, even an overland one, then I ask that I be sent some place where I can be useful rather than watch the gulls fly over the Adriatic!

Matthias's outburst turns to grumbling as he continues pacing the chamber.

[econ21]

Diet Speaker: At the request of the Kaiser, I am calling an Emergency Session of the Diet. The Kaiser is currently unable to fulfill the role of Chancellor and has resigned from that post. The purpose of this Session is to sollicit manifestoes from candidates who wish to replace him as Chancellor. Given the urgency of the need to install a new Chancellor, this Emergency Diet session will last only 24 hours.

Although the Kaiser has not been impeached, I propose that we elect his replacement under the same conditions as layed out in articles (b), (c), (d) and (e) of Charter Amendment E2.1. To this I end, I propose:

Charter Amendment E3.1:
Amend Charter E2.1 to read:
(a) If an Edict to impeach the Chancellor is passed with a 2/3 majority or he resigns, he is removed from office immediately.
(b) After impeachment or resignation, a fresh election is held to elect a new Chancellor, although a Kaiser may also exercise his perogative to be Chancellor at that point.
(c) The Chancellor replacing an impeached or resigned Chancellor serves out the remainder of the impeached or resigned Chancellor's term.
(d) All edicts passed in the preceding regular Diet that elected the impeached Chancellor remain valid, unless overturned by new Edicts at an Emergency Session the Emergency Session that impeached him.
(e) An impeached or resigned chancellor is not granted the additional bonus to influence that an ex-chancellor would normally be given.

The amendments are marked in bold or by strike outs. Do I have two seconders for this Amendment?

Edicts and other Charter Amendments can also be proposed, but the function of this Emergency Session is primarily to find a replacement Chancellor. The deadline for the submission of manifestoes for the Chancellor's replacement, and for seconding any Edicts or Amendments is Monday 2pm (UK time). There will then be a 24 hour period of voting.

[econ21]

[Elberhard]:

Well, this is a right ... @#$%^&!!!ing pickle, isn't it?

Electors, the 10th Diet did not @#$%^&!!! mess about. It set out clear directions for our Reich. All we need now is a man to implement what we agreed. To this end, I put myself forward as a care-taker Chancellor. I propose the following eight point program:

1. I will work with the House of Franconia to launch the crusade on Moscow we agreed and secure Thorn.

2. I will work with the House of Bavaria to capture the Milanese islands.

3. I will work with the House of Swabia to rebuild their Household Army and protect our western borders.

4. I will work with the House of Austria to retake Budapest and secure our south eastern frontier.

5. I will work with the King of Outremer to take Iconium and defend our crusader settlements against the Horse Lords.

6. I will repair buildings damaged through rioting and make sure all city settlements are providing the militia they are obliged to provide freely to the Reich.

7. I will rebuild our naval forces, driving off the outrage of a Russian fleet marauding near Venice.

8. I will act promptly and report on my progress every two years.

[OverKnight]

Matthias looks up in shock from some fanciful scribblings about Byzantium.

Ah. . .well, this is a decade of firsts isn't it?

While this is an unfortunate outcome, I applaud the Kaiser's insight in realizing he was unable to fulfill the dual roles of Monarch and Chancellor.

I will second E3.1. I hope this is the last time such legislation will have to be used.

As for candidates, 24 hours doesn't give anyone much time to assemble a manifesto does it? I'd almost think that the Speaker and Count Elberhard were in cahoots. ()

OOC: Is the latest save posted, ie which year is it?