Conseil du Royaume

[Cecil XIX]

I believe I am in need of a clarification.

If I recall correctly, our charter states that the King's perogative is to appoint himself chancellor, not nominate. Surely his higness meant the former?

[Vladimir]

I wish to support the modified Edict 3.3, Edict 3.2, Edict 3.6, Edict 3.7, and...um can I do that?

*looks to Kip, who shrugs*

*mumbles*

"What we really need is an edict for a damn brothel."

[Braden]

I also second Edict 3.7

[TinCow]

I second Edict 3.6.

[OverKnight]

Hugues enters the Conseil, looking much healthier than in previous years.

I second Edict 3.4. If we must use mercenaries, let them fight for their pay.

I am also intrigued by the idea of offering the Scots land in England. We are overextended and gaining an ally for a buffer would be wise.

[TheFlax]

A young man in pompous and extravagant clothing enters the Conseil and waits shyly for some measure of silence before speaking.

Seigneurs de France!

I present myself, Barbus Selvio, former member of the Venetian Doge's extended family and now husband to the fair Constance, daughter of our great King. I apologize for not presenting myself here sooner, but there were some familial... matters... to attend to in Italy.

Now then, I do not wish to bore you with a long discourse, but let me say I am in awe over what you have accomplished, first in your war against the Holy Roman Empire and then in your war against the English. Truly, your bravery and prowess is unmatched mes Seigneurs and it does me at great honor and pleasure to join your ranks.

Nodding to the assembly, Barbus takes a seat.

[Braden]

*Henri stands and acknowledges Barbus’ entrance*

I thank my….brother…for his words praising our actions thus far and trust such honour and bravery is to be matched by his own in the near future.

[_Tristan_]

Philippe acknowledges the arrival of Barbus Selvo with a nod and a smile.

Welcome to our Conseil, Barbus... I hope that you'll make you feel at home... Though knowing your bride, a change from home must be what you're looking for...

Philippe's face then becomes more more grave.

Mes Seigneurs,

I think it is time to take stock of our conquests. We've achieved much during my reign and under the guidance of our Senechaux.

We have reconquered the land lost to the children of Charlemagne and to our former vassal Guillaume, surpassing even the accomplishments of our greatest ancestor.

France is truly blessed by God, as is proven in our successes against the English.

And yet, I've heard many among you wish that we surrender these conquests. On what grounds, mes Seigneurs ?

To act contrite of having brought down the heretic Guillaume ? To prove to our neighbours and to the world that we feel guilty for our actions ?

I cannot understand you stance. Only a few years ago, Guillaume, my former vassal, laid a claim to my crown, trying to enforce it by force of arms. Don't we have a right as victors to the spoils ? Is that not the way to treat the lands and the people that raised their arms against us ?

Moreover, I do not wish to set a precedent. For if we were to relinquish our English holdings to their former masters or to the Scots, what should we be prepared to cede ? Valencia to Spain ? Nuremburg, Bern or Staufen to the Reich ? Marseille to the Milanese ? Hamburg to Danemark ? Magdeburg to Poland ?

For I tell you, if we begin given away our conquests, we'll soon find beggars at our doors.

In this light, I wish to propose the following legislation :

Proclamation 3.1 :The borders of France will be fixed upon their boundaries of 1100. No territories comprised between these borders can be given, sold or otherwise exchanged to another Kingdom (OOC : faction) but through a 2/3 vote of the Conseil authorizing it. If lost through an act of war, all efforts will be implemented so that any of those territories are reconquered by the end of the term in which it was lost or at the latest the first half of the next term, if the territory was lost in the second half of the term. All Edicts contradictory to this Proclamation will be considered null and void.

This should keep the "beggars" at bay and help us have the manpower to defend our conquest and launch the Crusade that so many of you wish for.

[_Tristan_]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

If I recall correctly, our charter states that the King's perogative is to appoint himself chancellor, not nominate. Surely his higness meant the former?

And surely you meant Senechal, Duc Raymond ? We're not Reichlanders...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Don't forget I'm no native speaker and can't speak "Legalite"... Nominate = appoint in my view...

[Braden]

I would support Edict 3.6 but I feel it goes too far, especially in light of the fact that our next Seneschal is to be the King himself.

This is not an offence to you however, my father, but merely I feel the Edict should focus on getting a Crusade approved, provinces pre-ratified and an intended scope of the Crusade. Should this be all Iberian provinces held by the Moors for example?

On the question of lands being returned to the Spanish, you know my feelings on this matter so again I agree with the Edict in so much as it goes not as far as I wished, but I feel it is not needed in an Edict anymore. Lands ratified will pass to the King, who is also Seneschal, and therefore I believe that in this case he will do what is the best course in this matter. Greatly improved relations with Spain would be a significant boon and should it be chosen to use these Iberian provinces as part of enhancing that relationship I will not stand in its way.

Spain is a “land-neighbour” of our lands and it is important to deal with them well for they have not shown us any disregard.

For those that find my comments at odds somewhat with my own comments regarding the provinces in England…well, I hope it is known now that I do not care for England and purely wish it back in true English hands. Should Edict 3.1 fail then I am heartened to know there are other similar Edicts which mention granting such holdings to Scotland even and I am thankful for them. I hope at least one comes to pass.

[Ramses II CP]

Without 3.6 the lands taken will not be ratified and must wait until a formal Council session to be returned to the Spanish... in my understanding of the law anyway.

Our relations with Spain are near perfect I assure you. My wife reports to her family regularly on the excellence of our ties at my insistence.

[Marcus Agrippa]

My Lords I am dismayed you can not find the purpose on my edict.
I made it quite clear that it will stablies our north and pave the way for trade.
Scotland should be whole and stronger to diswade the English from war.
Unless we are to become conquers we need to make allies and establish trade to allow us to improve our lands. I may also point out that we can train superior soldiers to the mercenaries currently available if we improve our training grounds.
Also the crusade should be against north Africa as we would gain land that would support a future crusade to our holy lands.

[Cecil XIX]

A letter arrives from Duc Raymond in Dijon.

Your majesty,

In anticipation of future battles with the Germans I shall use one of my prioritizations to recruit one regiment of town militia immediately. Also, I have a question for our scribes: Can an Lord use his prioritizations to recruit soldiers in settlements owned by his vassals?

Your obediant,
R. de Provence

[Cultured Drizzt fan]

Micheal D'Anjou enters the council, apparently in a good mood. He hums slightly as he takes a seat near by the rest of the house of aquitaiune

The English prince was foolish to move so deeply into french lands. He has been dispatched as well as his small retinue. They fought tenaciously, but broke when casualties started to mount. We rode down all we could, and I believe they have been thoroughly eradicated. The only explanation I can come up with as to how he got where he was is by ship, so I would like to petition he king to allow me to build a watchtower north of Pamplona next season.

Casualties among the peasants were low enough, although the uselessness of them as anything but cannon fodder still amazes me. But what can one expect?

[Ramses II CP]

For anyone who was unaware, Prince Henry of England had somehow crept into the forests southwest of Bordeaux. He was not as well hidden as he might have wished, however, as Baron D'Anjou makes obvious. I have given him charge over Pamplona and asked him to discover how the English came to intrude upon our lands. I suspect they've a naval presence of some sort in the west. Perhaps it is time for France to develop one as well?

I have ordered a blockade placed on the port of Cordoba to deny the Moors resources and reinforcement. I also mean to erect a fort at the narrows of Gibraltar, if the Seneschal will permit it next season, so that France can control passage. If the will of the Council is to return Granada to the Spanish they may also wish to garrison that fort, but in the mean time it will prevent Cordoba from being reinforced easily.

Once Granada and the crossing are secured I mean to drive on Corodoba and expel the infidels from Iberia for good. I still do not clearly know the situation in my father-in-law's lands. Perhaps an agent could be assigned to discovering how matters lie?

I ask that all Franks pray for Baron de Chatillon's victory at Bern. Perhaps Duke de Provence could be troubled to stir himself to the man's aid?

The same prayers must be said for Prince Henri and Duke de Saint-Amand in the north. The Germans have clearly found a new source of funding for their armies, especially in light of their purchase of Nuremburg. Perhaps after we have seen off their latest armies an equitable peace could be found?

Speaking of which, I salute your wisdom in enriching our kingdom at the small cost of surrendering those far flung settlements Mon Roi. Your guidance as Seneschal sees France profitable and successful on all fronts!

[_Tristan_]

Philippe nods to his son.

I'm glad to see you appreciative of the work I do. For it is for you I'm doing it, Louis... This will soon be your Royaume.

As to securing the crossing, I fear a fort in Gibraltar may be a magnet to Moorish forces rather than a deterrent. And erecting a fort will cost our treasury dearly, without even adding in the cost of the man manning it. I would suggest rather getting another fleet in your employ to patrol the straits and prevent any massive crossings. It would be a bargain comparatively.

I'll see to send an agent towards Iberia as soon as possible to acquire knowledge of forces in presence.

And, of course, my prayers also go to our brave nobles and soldiers in Bern and Frankfurt. They are fighting blasphemers and if they remain strong in their faith, as in their arms, they will prevail.

Now, I must be back to Albion. There's still some fighting to be done there...

[deguerra]

Mes Seigneurs,

The siege at Berne is broken. The Imperial Army has been routed, their ransom rejected and survivors cut down to the last man. They were lead by imbeciles, but their individual soldiers fought bravely, and French casualties were high. I would especially like to mention Sieur Chrétien, without whom I would not be standing here today.

I would ask that as many of my troops be retrained as possible, with special focus on the armoured knights who took heavy losses. But really, I would ask that we finally cease hostilities with the Reich. We have slain several Kaisers. We have taken a large chunk of their lands. What more do we want?

That said, I care not how many more armies are sent to Berne, they will be smashed like the ones before. And from this day, there will be no more rejected ransom demands. Any Imperial soldier who enters Switzerland bearing arms against me and is caught will be killed. I will block the mountain passes with their bodies if need be.