Imperial Messenger Service

[Stig]

Announcement from Franconia

Today Franconia has given up Thorn, defending it would cost the Reich too much, and as soon as possible we will leave it. We plan on building a new defensive line to defend Stettin and Breslau from attacks, and furthermore we want to gain land against the Danes.
Electors from other Duchies are hereby invited to join an attack against Arhus, to bring down the Danes once and for all.

The Reich should stand strong, it should not have people declaring themselves anything and nothing.

[Privateerkev]

Dear Kaiser, Dukes, Counts, and Electors,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am proud to tell you that the Crusaders are holding Outremer against heavy odds. Antioch and Aleppo have been relieved of their sieges and the Kaiser has moved south to try to re-take Damascus. I hope the rest of you in the Reich are holding your own against the enemies arrayed against you.

However, some letters that have reached me through the IMS have caused concern.

The announcement by one Dietrich von Dassel to somehow claim the mantle of Duke of Swabia is particularly interesting. He is supposedly doing this to promise stability. How a man who gets the entire Reich excommunicated, can see himself as the purveyor of stability, is quite simply beyond comprehension. Electors only need to look so far as their own counties to see evidence of Dassel's "so called stability" embodied by the massive civil unrest excommunication has brought us. I am sure the thousands that have died from riots and lack of social order will rest easy knowing that Dassel is going to claim being Duke all in the name of stability.

Also of note is Duke Ansehelm's letter where he claims the need to abandon Franconian lands while simultaneously calling for a gigantic offensive against the Danes. Meanwhile his brother, Peter the Pretender, abandons Hamburg to the Danes. While I understand the need to consolidate defensive lines, in order to preserve forces, it makes little sense to then go on separate offensives into the heart of enemy territory. Thousands of our citizens are either caught behind enemy lines, or are under threat of being over-run. I urge the Duke to concentrate on protecting the citizens entrusted to his care and avoid foolhardy offensives that will only waste his resources and put more lives at risk. I also urge the Franconian Counts to take matters into their own hands to protect their people, if Duke Ansehelm refuses the responsibility.

I wish you all luck in protecting those under your care. It is up to us to bring the citizens of the Reich through this dark time. We must not fail. The fate that befell Rome is ample proof of what will happen if we falter.

God be with you,
Jan

[AussieGiant]

My Lords,

The situation in Austria is still tense.

I write this in light of the recent crushing Lord Zirn, Count Lorenz and Count Karolinger have given the approaching Hungarian's near Budapest.

After two successful night actions I believe we will be able to hold firm at Budapest.

The next phase will be the Venetian attack on Ragusa.

As long as the two nations do not co-ordinate their attacks either by luck or design then I believe Austria can hold on these two fronts.

News of the Outremer victories are certainly heartening given the substantial amount of troops present in the region...we are certainly doing well.

As for Dietrich's proclamation then I am certainly not interested in rehashing the past.

Right now Swabia is in turmoil and anyone that can unite the Duchy will be the most appropriate for the position no matter what the past may have recorded.

At this time I will also publicly state that "count" Becker has separated himself from the Duchy of Austria based loosely on some grievance against the function of House Austria.

I've sent him a note saying that he is under a period of amnesty should he decide to rejoin me and the House he swore allegiance too. If he reconsiders then I will view it as a brief moment of uncertainty given the situation we are facing.

However, and I say this with absolute certainty....at such time as the situation in Austria stabilises I will make a determination as to when this amnesty ends, and when it does there will be a clear choice for him to make.

Anyone aiding or abetting him will fall under the same conditions.

In uncertain times is when you learn about your men and your nobles. Loyalty and trust to me from my nobles and the men I command IS the most important characteristic!! There can be no grey areas.

Duke Arnold of Austria.