Imperial Diet V

[GeneralHankerchief]

Dietrich von Dassel:

*The Swabian knight rises, a slight nervous look on his face for a brief instant. It is quickly replaced by a solemn expression, accompanied with nods directed at several Electors present.*

Mein Kaiser, Chancellor Matthias, fellow Electors.

The past two terms have finally, finally seen the Reich completely re-emerge from its post-Ulrich Hümmel funk. The man responsible for this renaissance is Chancellor Matthias Steffen, and he should be congratulated for his superior administrative skills. We are truly better off because of him.

I have heard rumors and general rumblings that Kaiser Siegfried himself is to assume the position of Chancellor this upcoming term and guide the Reich himself. I wish him luck in that endeavor for surely it cannot be as easy as Chancellor Matthias makes it look.

However, I have also heard general rumblings of discontent about the Kaiser’s style of handling things. People have said that he spent too much time vacationing in Constantinople when the twin crises of the deaths of Conrad Salier and Sigismund von Mahren loomed over the Reich. People have said that he is too friendly with the Byzantines, with their Emperor exercising a little too much over him by way of the Empress Theodora. *He nods curtly to the Empress.* People have said that he appoints people to powerful positions solely because of loyalty rather than merit, thus endangering all who seek the holder of that position for protection.

In short, I have seen and heard enough general discontent over Kaiser Siegfried’s style to wonder if he should become our leader for the next twenty years without input or suggestions from anybody.

Therefore, I hereby challenge the Kaiser to waive his right to an automatic Chancellorship in the name of doing what is best for the Reich.

You, Kaiser Siegfried, are duty-bound as Holy Roman Emperor to seek and execute options that are of the greatest benefit to the Empire as a whole. I inform you now: There is discontent over your past choices; who better to determine what is best for the Reich than its people? Allow a proper election between you and anyone who wants to run and give the people, the representatives of all four Houses and the Outremer, a chance to make their voices heard.

I offer myself to the people as a candidate, because my policies and beliefs differ from Kaiser Siegfried’s and I believe that mine are correct.

First and foremost, I believe that we should be putting the Reich first. The Kaiser has become friendly with the Byzantines – some say too friendly. We have an alliance with them, which is rare nowadays, and I do not seek to break it. That said, recent cooperation with them and seeing the advancement of their goals has come at a price where other areas of need have been overlooked. If I am elected Chancellor we will take care of our own needs first and if there is any manpower or material left over, we shall send them to our allies.

Secondly, we need to take a firmer policy with our enemies. Bavaria’s recent conclusion of hostilities with Sicily was rare in that it was a short, cheap (in terms of lives lost) conflict. This is not the case in many other areas. On our western front lies, just as it has always lied, the menace of the slimy French. They have been Swabia’s mortal enemies since poor Sigismund der Stolze was assassinated by them in 1142. Electors, that was over 150 years ago. We fight them still. On our eastern front lies an even older and deadlier enemy in Poland, who have plagued Franconia and Austria since before all of us were born.

Electors, for too long have we been content with fighting defensively, or fighting a battle here and there and investing our resources elsewhere. I don’t want to let them off easy anymore. I want to kill them. I want to kill them with an axe. If elected I will organize two all-out efforts aimed at forever breaking the power of our oldest enemies. In the west, Duke Scherer and I will refit, and together with my Portuguese friend, Prince Hanrrique, we will strike and capture Angers. To provide greater effect, if Duke Steffen is willing, we can sic the Gerhard Steffen Memorial Army on Toulouse, which is currently lightly defended, further crippling the French and leaving them only one territory on the Iberian Peninsula. In the east I shall provide the von Kastiliens and Duke Arnold with everything they need to take down Krakow and the many Poles lurking around there, waiting to do us further harm. If we are successful enough then we can press on to Hungary.

Our enemies may be hurt, but they still have teeth. If they ever concentrate and organize they can marshal their forces together in an invasion, which would seriously threaten our oldest territories. If we go on the offense we can force them to fight defensively and keep them focused on not losing their own lands.

To those of you who doubt my experience, know this: I have fought several battles already, and considering the fact that I am still alive and addressing you now they did not go all bad. In terms of diplomacy I have already forged a bond with the Portuguese heir to the throne, Prince Hanrrique, and together along with my former Duke we have driven the French out of Caen.

Kaiser, I once again plead to you: Let the Electors decide. If you waive your right and defeat me in a fair election then fine. May your reign be the most prosperous the Reich has ever seen. I won’t say “boo.” But do not shut the people out of this important process at this important time in our history.

Thank you.