Imperial Diet VI

[Stig]

Ansehelm:
If that's no Household Army I give you 24 hours to replace it.
In fact it has gone of the Household Army status the minute it left Franconia, as Household Armies are not meant to do these things.
Ofcourse I do not agree with Peter's actions ... he could have atleast told me about it, so I could have said no and he could have properly deserted. It's the Chancellors responsibility to see to the movement of armies, not mine.

[econ21]

Elberhard: Thank you, Duke Ansehelm. The traitor Peter's army will no longer be referred to as the Prussian Household Army.

In its stead, Duke Ansehelm, I offer you your Teutonic Crusade Army to act as your second Household Army. Is that acceptable to you, my Lord?

[Stig]

Ansehelm:
It needs to be well reinforced, and next to that it needs new and different regiments. Light Cavalry is fine on the plains of Russia but they're no use to me near Thorn, I would prefer to replace them with artillery.

[Privateerkev]

Has anyone considered cutting off funding to Peter's rogue army? If we have now confirmed that the whole army has mutinied, then why are we still paying for it? This might put neighboring settlements at risk to being sacked but why should the Reich keep financing this man's treacherous acts?

OOC: I know this would be hard to do practically but it is a fair thing to bring up IC. Maybe we can claim that Peter needs to do certain things to get enough florins to pay the upkeep of his army. Like stand on trade routes or sack settlements. Or put him in an HRE settlement and just RP that he sacked it. If he doesn't maybe we can have some units leave. Armies like to get paid...

[econ21]

Elberhard: King Jan, I fear the traitor Peter's army is living off the land and its men likely kept in line by the promise of loot from the great Byzantine capital.

Duke Ansehelm, after watching me poor Arnolds in action, I am also becoming persuaded of the virtues of cannon. I will do me best by your request - if you wish to submit a more shopping list, I'll get me boys on it.

The fall of Krakow means that you and Duke Arnold have several Polish armies trapped between you. After you have destroyed the Russians near Thorn, I propose to have the pair of you catch and eliminate all Polish forces in the area. Duke Arnold may prefer to return to Austria, but if he would consent to stay near Krakow for a while, we can put an end to the Polish threat for a generation.

I do have one condition before turning the Teutonic Crusade into a second Franconian Household Army - the traitor Peter von Kastilien can no longer be heir to the Duchy of Franconia. If you appoint an alternative heir, then I will convert the Teutonic Crusade from an Imperial force into a Franconian one. But God forbid anything should happen to you, I cannot permit two further German armies fall under the command of the traitor.

[Stig]

Ansehelm:
Peter is no heir, he's my second in command, if anything happens to me he takes over. And I'm not taking any steps untill I talked to him in person.

[econ21]

Elberhard: Duke, I am confused but it is a simple question: if you were to die, would Peter be Duke of Franconia?

If he would not, everything is fine.

If he would, then I cannot hand over such a significant Imperial resource as the Teutonic Crusade to the House of Franconia.

Given the dubious loyalty of the deserter Tancred and the Lutheran Fritz, I do not insist that you appoint another successor. I rather fear that would be a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire. You may appoint your daughter as your successor, if you like, as you have done in the past.

But I cannot abide the notion of the traitor Peter becoming Duke of Franconia.

[Tamur]

*Fritz goes to the doors and opens them, and keeps them open*

Elberhard, Elberhard! Do you hear that? That is the sound of a populace who are ready for change, and Luther has given them a voice! I find it strange that I am the only one who has made significant mention of the words of Alexander Luther, when the people of the Reich are whipped into a frenzy by them.

When the tide that is rising washes over the Reich, Péter will be viewed as a hero, mark my words. His name is already spoken in whispers in the streets with reverence.

It is time this Diet accepted the fact that the sellout to the Byzantines was a huge mistake, that the Kaiser is playing havoc with the stability of the Reich, and that this cannot go on any longer. Time will not stand still for us.

[Privateerkev]

Leaving Peter as "heir to be Steward of the Ducal throne" basically endorses his actions. If, God forbid, something happens to you, Peter would be "Steward of Franconia" until my nephew comes of age in a few years. I find your refusal to fire him to be most disturbing.

There are other Franconians to choose. Though, I admit, not many. Tancred has gone missing. I am not eligible while I am appointed as King. That just leaves Count Dieter and Count Fritz. Only Count Fritz is in Franconia at the moment. While I may disagree strongly with his religious views, he has remained loyally by your side through all of this.

*edit*

OOC: in the past, he named the Kaiser's daughter as heir with Peter as Steward until she marries. Now, von Kassel is heir with Peter as Steward until he comes of age.

[FactionHeir]

I do not believe that Fritz would be a much better choice than Peter after his recent statements.

[Warmaster Horus]

I realize my words may not seem the best for Fritz von Kastilien, but perhaps what Péter needs is an "inside man".

[econ21]

Elberhard: I am sorry, King Jan, but I cannot accept Fritz as heir to Franconia either. Have you not heard what he has been preaching outside this very Diet? He is blatantly supporting the traitor Peter's plan to sack Constantinople. This is not a matter of religious views, but of rebellion.

I apologise to the Duke of Franconia for taking such an interest in the internal matter of the Franconian succession. But these are extraordinary times and I cannot surrender one of our only three Imperial armies without being sure it will remain steadfast.