Chapter VII - Aliquando et insanire iucundum est
28th of May - 1433
Heh, I'm 50 years old, 30 years in the army, 22 years as an officer, and I still get goosebumps when I hear the war-cry of my army before every training session... Aren't I pathetic?
I'm not sure I'm happy with the way this country is turning out... Before his holiness Urbanus VII was elected, we were smaller, yes, but our reputation was honourable, we were very trustworthy, and we had no real enemies to fear. Nowadays we are having not only more often military training, but harder training as well and it makes me tired just to stand by the side, watching the troops.
Lately we've gained control over the Holy See, and His Holiness has already planned on excommunicating the king of Naples and Aragon to satisfy his lust for conquest. I don't know how to react anymore heh, with our allies and our war capacity I shouldn't fear for nor any Italian nation, nor any Iberian, yet I fear for my own...
All I can do is sigh, go to bed, and wake up tomorrow to drill my soldiers a little harder and hope that they all will survive the year.
With love,
- Angelo Conti
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Indeed, the pope was longing for conquest so he, immediately after gaining control over the Holy See, excommunicated the ruler of Naples and Aragon. With England's consent, but without Castille's. The nation of Castille was not late to reply to the excommunications by threatening to dishonour their alliance with both the Papal State and England if they both join forces against either of the excommunicated king's nations.
England, who was the superior naval nation and Papal State, who had both better drilled soldiers, and better economy (after Castille's long Holy Wars against northern Africa) didn't care much whether or not Castille joined in or not. The Papal State, had long since the alliance proposal switched ruler, and so had England and their old ties with Castille were no longer important. Once upon a time they drew sword together, but not this time.
Every nation for itself, as Henry VI O'Neill of England said.
In 1434, Urbanus VII proposed to the duke of Modena to hand over his land to the Papal State who could provide more protection, higher welfare status, and, of course, some money for the Duke's pocket. Something he couldn't refuse. They had the "legitimate" paper signed where the Duke acknowledges the land as a rightful part of the Papal State in Italy.
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Then, in 1437, Urbanus VII suddenly disappeared along with one thousand men, one cardinal, five hundred ducats, and two goats while travelling on a ship from Girona. Where he went, nobody knows. There were no sights of a shipwreck, nor any signs of a Papal fleet diverting off course south towards Northern Africa. At least not according to the British sailors of Sardinia or the Genoese trading-fleet of Corsica.
Last time it was seen was on the 10th of November from a Catalonian cog in the Balearic Sea and rumours is that he started up a Theocratic nation in Africa. How he's going to do that with one thousand men and two goats, I do not even dare to speculate.
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The Conclave was left with no other option than to select a new Pope, and they chose no-one but Urbanus VIII. Urbanus VIII was, Urbanus VII, scholar many years ago and he resembled the former Urbanus both in his manners, and in his ambitions. He was a well trained prototype of the Catholic Church and the power-freak Urbanus VII. A very frightening prototype.
Upon his election, Zeno, the Venetian envoy, wrote the
following description of him:
The new Pontiff is 56 years old. He came out of the conclave in bad health owing to the pestilential atmosphere and the bodily disorders caused by the vehemence of the passions that affect cardinals in those assemblies, disabling some and killing others. His Holiness is tall, dark, with regular features and black hair turning grey. He is exceptionally elegant and refined in all details of his dress; has a graceful and aristocratic bearing and exquisite taste. He is an excellent speaker and debater, writes verses and patronises poets and men of letters.
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Conveniently for Henry VI, he and Urbanus VIII shared the same dream, a Catholic world and they agreed upon splitting Europe in half, giving Papal State southern Europe, coast around Mediterranean Sea, Greek Peninsula and Turkey while England gets Northern Europe, Scandinavia and land as far as to Muscovy.
They both declared war upon Naples with it's alliance of Mantua, Aquileia and Venice assisting them on the 23rd of Feb, 1438
Castille, not surprisingly, dishonoured their alliance and was, by taking that course of action, now a threat to the Catholic alliance of England and Papal State.
The battle of Modena went swift. The Modenian army was overrun, the country quickly sieged, and the King quickly succumbed to Urbanus VIII's wish...
Naples wasn't able to stand fast against the Papal and English forces and got their whole nation sieged. Papal State took Apulia and Calabria, while England occupied Napoli and Epirus. They agree'd on letting Papal State take two of Naple's province while releasing Epirus as a sovereign state under the house of O'Neill of England, as well as ceding their treasury to the Papal State.
This was important gains in southern Italy as it gave the Papal State more land to rule over, more men to recruit to the army and it gave them the opportunity to seize Sicily, while having Naples reduced to an OPM. At the same time, Epirus is now a loyal ally who will aid the Papal State in wars, and vice versa. Urbanus VIII saw it as a great opportunity for warfare against the Turks, as well as Candar, who, for some reason has conquered southern Greece. They also gained gold, whom they split with England and spent it on building Temples while now resting their eyes upon France once more...
Neither Aquileia nor Venice could do anything against this because Aquileia was busy fighting of Hungarian rebels and Venice was currently in a war with Milan so a white peace was signed in November - 1439.
"
Haha, Aliquando et insanire iucundum est!" Said Urbanus happily while serving some more wine to Henry VI
"I'm shorry? I'm afraid my Latin knowledge doeshn't stretch far enough to understand your shaying. With the risk of sounding impolite, which I sincerely apologize for, can you pleashe translate to English?" - Henry VI said, a little drunk, but very interested.
"Of course, my friend, and mighty ally. *chuckle* I was merely saying that it is sometimes pleasant even to act like a madman" - Urbanus VIII replied.
"
Hahaha, Indeed. Magno cum gaudio, my dear Pope... Magno cum gaudio " - Henry VI said, before passing out.
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Author's Note: I was a little short of pictures for this update, you must excuse me for that. Also, I apologize for the short and kind of confusing update but it will all make perfect sense in the next (super) epic double-issue tomorrow. Please, bare with me.
-Adam