XIX: Indecision 1462 (May-September 1462)
Moldavian Misadventures
Following Michael von Anhalt's death, command of the Moldavian 'intervention' fell to Ludwig von Mecklenburg, Komtur of Riga and therefore a recent appointee personally loyal to von Anhalt. Indeed, hoping to avoid the acrimony that defined his reign, most of the 'intervention's' leadership consisted on those the Hochmeister trusted, or those with a retiring personality unlikely to cause trouble.
Komtur von Mecklenburg fell in the former camp. He did his duty by sending his fastest ship, the galley
Hermann von Salza, home to alert Marienburg of the need to summon Conclave. Apart from that he chose to obey his master's last orders and landed at the mouth of the Danube River on June 4th some 20 miles (30 km) south of the capital.
The next day a contingent of Hungarian soldiers escorting Karoly Racokzy, Bishop of Transylvania, approached the invaders. Racokzy warned the Knights that, much as he'd personally like to see Moldavia returned to the Catholic fold, King Ulaszlo of Hungary guaranteed their freedom from 'external interference,' as indeed had Lithuania. He thought both nations were targetting each other for control of Eastern Europe and sought to build buffer states. This way, should one choose to attack there would be enough warning for the 'defender' to raise an army and meet the attackers.
Karoly Racokzy said:
..and so on the fifth day we encountered Lord von Mecklenburg, self appointed commander of the (Teuton) crusaders. Upon appraising him of the ramifications of his decision, von Mecklenburg was most cross but agreed it would be best to seek counsel from Marienburg and retire until then.
(I determined v Mecklenburg was going to attack anyway, but as I was about to declare war I learned Moldavia had two new guarantors. Uhm...no thanks!)
Succession
The
Hermann von Salza, much battered by storms in the Bay of Biscay and North Sea, arrived in Danzig on August 7th. A small, sleek messenger boat brought the news to Marienberg two days later and Isidor von Keyserling, now the Grosskomtur (Deputy) as well as Munzmeister (Mint Master), summoned Conclave.
Von Mecklenburg's aborted invasion, followed by his stubborn vigil in Constantinople waiting for orders regarding Moldavia, meant many of von Anhalt's supporters couldn't come. These people would have cast their votes for von Keyserling.
Isidor von Keyserling said:
I know most of you believe Hochmeister von Anhalt's reign lacked direction. You are mistaken: He was a good man who had definite plans for the Order. He believed we must make the transition from Warriors of God to being His servants - from trying to subjugate our neighbors to being an example of the prosperity that peace can bring.
In the end he was an idealist, whereas I am not. His reign left the Order stronger, but it left our enemies stronger as well. I most certainly believe we have enemies. I believe in Lord von Anhalt's vision, but I also believe we cannot get there while we are have valid reason to fear the machinations of our neighbors.
He proved to be surprisingly suave for what many took to be a 'pfenning counter,' combining an analytical sense only somewhat weaker than his predecessors with a strong understanding of human personality and motivation. As first Tressler (treasurer) then Grosskomtur he knew something about everyone in Conclave and used this to advantage making promises and threats in equal measure.
Over the coming weeks two men rose to challenge his nomination: First was Friedrich von Holstein. Friedrich advocated returning to the Order's original purpose: The Baltic Crusade.
Friedrich von Holstein said:
Who can call Hochmeister von Anhalt's reign (God rest him) anything but one error compounded on another? He forced Ingria's king to accept the True Faith - but Vainanomen already worshipped Him as we do. What have the new Ingrian lords done to save the souls of their people? Nothing.
He then stayed away from the east - from the very lands Pope and God would have us return to the fold - for the majority of his years. He returned only at the end, and then in a blind land grab. In his last years did the Hochmeister send missionaries to Novgorod? No.
Von Holstein knew starting a war could lead to disaster. Instead he suggested repairing relations with their Catholic neighbors - possibly including Lithuania, though he agreed that would be difficult. Once united (or at least secure) the Order would once more turn east and convert the Rus by force.
Last came Joseph von Richtenberg, a soldier whose main claim to fame was first positioning the Order's bombards to knock down Novgorod's walls, then staying behind to help them rebuild their defenses. He entered the fray late and watched his two elders debate with something akin to amusement.
Joseph von Richtenberg said:
It seems someone here better stand for reason. Attack the Rus - but only once matters settle down. Attack our enemies - but only once matters settle down. I am sure if we check the chronicles similar arguments rang forth when Hochmeister von Plauen stepped down...and probably back to the dawn of this Order. Aren't you tired of the same? Why do you think Hochmeister von Anhalt decided to spend his last year sailing around Europe rather than listening to this babble?
Here's a new idea: We throw off the shackles of the past. We abandon century old thinking. By no means do we abandon our heritage, but it is time to adapt to the changing times. Ancient crusades cannot define this Order. Our possessions, important as they are, do not define our Order. Our service to Christ does. Do we best serve Him by politicking about northern Europe, or is it better for us to protect His servants from those of The Enemy? Let us adopt the burden of the fallen Hospitaller. Let us free Europe from the darkness.
Detractors pointed out that substituting the Muslim Crusades for the Baltic hardly qualified as new thinking, but after twenty years of Lord von Anhalt's reasoning his direct, no holds barred approach appealed to many. Similarly the early crusades struck a chord in the hearts of many Teutons: Their lore was filled with romantic notions of thrashing the 'evil' Turk, while their heritage dated back to the Second and Third Crusades.
Conclave of 1462 said:
Joseph von Richtenberg: 26 votes
Friedrich von Holstein: 22 votes
Isidor von Keyserling: 7 votes
(Not Present: 9 votes)
Whereas Michael von Anhalt handily defeated his rivals, the first round of voting resulted in a near deadlock between von Holstein and von Richtenberg. The only true loser was von Keyserling, whose manipulation and intimidation backfired. Even he chose not to concede defeat: The nine electors with von Mecklenburg in Constantinople could have had a disproportionate effect on the proceedings.
The Teuton charter and accompanying code were silent on this matter. When a grandmaster died, even on the field away from home, it was generally assumed there would be time to gather the Conclave and/or appoint proxies for those too sick to travel. Never had it taken three months for word of a grandmaster's death to reach Marienburg, and they felt pressured to render a quick verdict. The idea of waiting up to a year to send the
Hermann von Salza back out and for von Mecklenburg to return home was more than they could bear.
For two days they wrangled: No one changed votes, and von Keyserling's refusal to abdicate meant a majority was impossible. Normally the Grosskomtur presided over elections and could rule on the matter, but since the deputy was involved they needed a neutral arbiter. Finally the Conclave authorized Papal Legate Sancho de Toledo to rule.
De Toledo didn't think much of Lord von Anhalt, and despised von Keyserling's pragmatism as a continuance of that policy. Baltic or Balkan mattered less to him than getting the Teutonic Order back in the crusading business. It took him less than an hour to order the election to continue with only the top two candidates.
On the morning of the fourth day he asked them to summarize their positions, and for the Conclave to rule:
****
(Key: Name (High Stat/Med Stat/Low Stat)
(Priorities)
Friedrich von Holstein
* Allow our reputation to settle while converting Novgorod
* Work towards diploannexing Pskov and Ingria, at least long enough to convert their population if not permanently
* Maintain stable relations with Bohemia, Lithuania et.al. if possible
* Attack and conquer and/or forceconvert Muscowy. If vassalized, Muscowy makes a good ally for dealing with Lithuania.
Joseph von Richtenberg
* Try to stabilize relations in the north
* Use Aragonian Naples as a forward base and forceconvert/vassalize Byzantium
(Necessary since they're Orthodox and 'we' care about that sort of thing.)
* At that point, use Catholic Byzantium as a base to kick the Ottoman Empire out of the Balkans, if not Anatolia as well
* Turn over all Balkan lands to our 'vassal'. At that point, Lithuania is potentially surrounded if there's further trouble.
COMMENT: It's up to you. It won't necessarily be majority rules, but the election - and our direction going forward - is in your hands. What now?
As for turning the Order into the world's largest mercenary army ... it worked for the Swiss 
