Imperial Diet IV

**TinCow** · 07-24-2007, 03:12

And so it begins again. We have been forced to choose between our oldest, unwavering allies, the Sicilians, and the Papacy that blesses us and damns us at a whim. Kaiser Heinrich would be turning in his grave if he knew we had abandoned our most trusted allies over some minor skirmish at Durazzo. We control the entire College of Cardinals. We control the Pope, yet we continue to let the Papal States dictate the terms of our foreign affairs. It is a sad day when the Reich cannot properly recognize who is a true ally and who is a vassal state.

**GeneralHankerchief** · 07-24-2007, 03:16

Conrad Salier:

Oh, I wouldn't say that. The Papacy recently did us a favor by mauling two large Egyptian armies threatening a good portion of Outremer. When is the last time the Sicilians did any such thing?

**gibsonsg91921** · 07-24-2007, 03:17

You know Lothar, I dislike you deeply, but when it comes to the Pope I forget that and I can't help but agree with you and stand by you. Why does this man think we should break our loyalties for a powerhungry warmongering fool?

**TinCow** · 07-24-2007, 03:34

Of course the King of Outremer would see value in such a thing. Need I remind him that Outremer would not even exist if it were not for our desire to make an excessive an unnecessary show of penance to the Pope? Outremer has brought us nothing but grief and misery. It has drained the Reich of armies that are badly needed to protect the homelands and sapped her strength of competent generals. The Pope's recent victories against the Egyptians were not even for our own benefit, but rather to ensure that his own seat of power remained intact. The very fact that you see selflessness in such an act shows how delusional some men in the East have become.

Return to the Reich, gentlemen, I assure you that no 'Horse Lords' will trouble you here. Let the heretics fight amongst themselves until Armageddon comes.

**gibsonsg91921** · 07-24-2007, 03:40

The Pope has Durazzo, why not protect him there? Jerusalem may have once been a Holy City, but now it is a land of heresy and heathens. In fact, the Pope is much safer in Durazzo, the old @#$%^&*. As much as I still begrudge his presence in Durazzo, I would much rather have the lords of Outremer return to the Reich and fight against enemies on our homeland.

**TinCow** · 07-24-2007, 03:45

For once, I am in full agreement with a Franconian.

**GeneralHankerchief** · 07-24-2007, 04:15

Conrad Salier:

Your worldview being as limited as it is, Lothar, I would expect you to say something like that. You were not old enough to remember life before Outremer. The Reich's very soul was at risk. We had been excommunicated for an age, money was not coming easily, and the fears were that we would be the target of a Crusade. Outremer changed all that. It was approved by noble commanders, men that you could only dream to emulate. It gave us all, and still continues to give the faithful, inner peace.

As for Peter, if, as you say, Jerusalem is a land of heresy and heathens, then is it not our duty as good Christians to work and remove that heresy?