Chapter 16: Vindication
1 January 1502, the Imperial Council Chambers
Andreas Germanicus, Marshal of the Empire of Tuscany, was both fearing and welcoming this day. Arresting the Emperor was easy, with the support of an entire Legion of devoted men. However, he had to convince the most prestigious men in the Empire that he'd made the right decision. This would be much more difficult. He was confident they would see reason, but was by no means certain. Every Duke from the Empire was here. His counterparts on the Imperial Council, Foreign Minister Pietro Leopoldo Bizzelli and his father, Philosopher Bonaventura Bizzelli, were here, as was the Imperial Chancellor, Axel Gathenhielm. He and Axel had a very close relationship; as the only two foreigners with any power in the Empire, they shared many of the same hopes, fears, and concerns.
Once all six Dukes were seated, Andreas carefully looked at each one. Three were older than him; the Cato brothers, Publius and Sextus Porcius, and Agrippa Tullius Cicero. Bartolomeo del Moro, the Duke of Sicily and Malta, was about his age; Tiberius Graecus and Prince Rodolfo were both quite a bit younger. He was particularly nervous about Prince Rodolfo, but as the Duke of Rome and Heir to the Imperial Throne, he had to sign off on anything involving his cousin, Emperor John I.
Only one important individual was not in the room -- General Cosimo Grimaldi. Recently ransomed back from the Ottoman Empire, he was busy raising new regiments for the Legions of the Empire of Tuscany. General Grimaldi was extremely grateful to Marshal Germanicus; he understood and fully approved of the Marshal's actions.
Andreas carefully considered the likely voting blocs, if it came down to a vote. Tiberius Graecus would likely vote against any decision, as he was very close to the Emperor and had a substantial hand in planning the campaign against the Ottomans. The Catos, particularly Publius, would very likely sympathize with the Marshal. The other three Dukes were total unknowns.
"Gentlemen, I appreciate your rapid response. We are in a time of internal crisis, and the sooner we can resolve this, the quicker we will be able to get back to something approaching normalcy. We must discuss what we should do with John I. Does anybody have any suggestions?"
Tiberius Graecus, unsurprisingly, rose first, and railed against Andreas laying hands on God's chosen representative on Earth, the Emperor of Tuscany. His ranting and raving continued for about ten minutes, but when he realized that nobody was listening, he quietly sat back down and sulked.
The first real solution was proposed by Sextus Porcius Cato, the Duke of Siena and Pisa. "We could proclaim a Noble Republic. That was Tuscany's form of government before St. Maso I proclaimed the Empire over 100 years ago. We would form an Assembly of Nobles, elect an executive, and then proceed based upon the votes of the Assembly, with the executive carrying out our wishes."
Andreas wrote this proposal down. The next came from Cato's brother, Publius, the Duke of Naples. "I agree with my brother's ideal for an Assembly of Nobles, but I would prefer a hereditary leader as the executive. This would give us stability and legitimacy in throughout the rest of Europe."
At Publius Cato's idea, many heads around the table nodded, except of course for the Emperor's lackey, Tiberius Graecus, who simply scowled. Sextus fully backed his brother's plan.
Over the course of the next few hours, the details were hammered out. They would still call the executive the Emperor, for practicality's sake, but his rule would no longer be absolute. The Emperor would choose his own advisors, his own Marshal, Chancellor, and Imperial Council, but the Assembly of Nobles would have to approve any such choice, and could vote "no confidence" in a corrupt or weak minister's case. The Emperor would be the head of state, and the commander in chief of the military (Andreas objected to this provision, but was voted down), but all major decisions had to be voted on by the Assembly of Nobles. In a state of emergency, the Emperor could rule by decree, but only for six months. In the event of war, a War Council would be formed, as in ages past, who would decide formally on major decisions. All members must be present in the event of war.
The Assembly of Nobles would be comprised of all the Dukes and Counts in the Empire. One's position on the Assembly was automatic and hereditary upon receiving a patent of nobility. The Emperor alone could grant patents of nobility; they could only be stripped if the Emperor and at least two thirds of the members of the Assembly voted in favor. All offices, except Emperor, were to be open to all citizens of the Empire, provided they were not citizens in any other realm. The Assembly could ask the Emperor to abdicate, but not demand it. All future Imperial Councillors would now be Barons, not Counts; thus, they could not serve in the Imperial Assembly. Barons were no longer hereditary; only Dukes and Counts were. This was designed to break the stranglehold of local life by the Barons, many of whom were corrupt.
With the Constitution of the Empire of Tuscany drafted -- here, ex-Chancellor Sextus was invaluable -- a formal vote was called by the first Assembly of Nobles. Of the ten voters -- Marshal Germanicus, Chancellor Gathenhielm, Philosopher and Foreign Minister Bizzelli, and the six Dukes -- only three voted against the Constitution. Nobody was too surprised when Tiberius Graecus voted no. Rodolfo Datti, the Heir to the Throne, also voted no, which was also no surprise. However, Duke Cicero's "no" was a bit of a shock. Everybody asked him to explain himself, and soon he did.
"Gentlemen, I cannot, in good conscience, vote the Empire of Tuscany out of existence, which is exactly what you plan to do. The Empire is simply too big to be ruled by committee, no matter how well-intentioned. I think if my father were still alive, he would agree. It is not man's place to question the order of things -- simply to make the best of it. The only way I could support this coup de tat -- which is precisely what this is -- is if the Emperor himself also signed the Constitution."
Many were stunned by Agrippa's speech. After all, for many years, he had unceasingly complained about his place in the order of things, being assigned to jobs he did not care for, and so forth. However, Andreas actually agreed with Agrippa's sentiment. He came to Tuscany to get away from bickering, back-biting, and arguments; that was why, despite his personal dislike for John I, he still gave a lot of power to the Emperor. All he wanted was a check on the authority of the Emperor. He held a second vote -- and this was unanimous -- that the Emperor should be consulted and his signature requested. He agreed to personally deliver the constitution to the still jailed John I.
Tiberius Graecus smirked. There was no way John I would ever voluntarily restrict his own power. This whole foolish experiment was doomed to failure.
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2 January 1502, John I's cell
Gian Gastone Datti, or John I, Emperor of Tuscany, paced back and forth in his cell. He'd actually spent a lot of his time thinking. Almost all at once, the idea that he, and he alone, had doomed 36,000 brave men of the Empire to death, had very nearly killed them personally, struck him. He actually spent the first week in captivity weeping, refusing to eat. His once massive frame now looked positively gaunt. To make matters worse, he had not a single visitor, except oddly enough, Marshal Germanicus, who usually looked in on him once a day.
Worst of all had been the dream, and that weighed on his conscience more heavily than anything else. In the dream, he had died and visited his father, Julius the Great, in heaven, after St. Peter allowed him passage. Julius took one look at his son, horrified, and told St. Peter to send him to Hell, with all the other murderers in history. John always awoke completely covered in sweat. Many times, the guards had awoken him, claiming he had been screaming so loud they thought he was killing himself.
There was only one recourse for John I. Redemption. The more he thought about it, the more he was convinced. Given the opportunity, he would earn his office and the respect of his people once more.
When Andreas Germanicus walked through the cell door, John was eating -- as the Emperor he did eat better than the average prisoner -- but did not stop; he only had so long to eat each day. He was a bit confused by the piece of paper in Andreas's hand, however.
"What have you got there, Andreas? May I see it?"
Andreas nodded, and handed the Constitution to the Emperor. John I put down his utensils and carefully scrutinized the document.
"If I understand you, you are asking me to cede my God-given authority to rule my own Empire to you and your cronies? Why on Earth would I agree to that?"
Andreas felt his skin flush, but curiously, John I looked neither arrogant nor argumentative; he was actually asking a legitimate question, albeit in a less-than-kind way.
"Emperor, the guards have reported your screams in the middle of the night on a number of occasions. I think you genuinely regret your actions; this Constitution will not only free you from your cell, but give you a true chance to atone for your sins against your people."
John nodded. The simple fact he didn't leap up and strangle Andreas showed he had learned a lot. He continued to carefully peruse the constitution. "You are giving me sole authority to grant patents of nobility and the right to promote nobles? Are you sure this is wise? I could pack the Assembly with my own loyal supporters."
Andreas smiled. "This is entirely within your rights; however, I think you will find that even the most loyal of servants will betray his master if his own interests are threatened."
John gave an ironic grin of his own. "Too true, too true. I have only one stipulation before I sign this. I actually think you ought to remove the emergency powers section entirely."
Andreas was stunned. "You would willingly weaken your own power?"
John replied, "To be honest, I would abuse this too willingly. I am well aware of my failings, and any man would probably just itch for an excuse. I cannot, in good conscience, sign this until that is deleted."
With a flair, Andreas scratched it out. John signed the document, nodded, and returned it. "It is done, then. Take a few days to regain your strength and collect yourself, Emperor John I."
As Andreas turned to leave, John asked, "A final question, Marshal. Would you have signed this if you were in my position?"
Andreas paused, ruefully grinned, and shook his head. "I would not, Emperor. Absolute power is intoxicating; it took considerable strength to not declare myself Dictator for Life as soon as I realized the power of the army behind me. I genuinely thank God every day that we do not make the same mistakes the Romans did."
John I stood, drew himself up to his full height, and shook Andreas' hand. "I could not agree more, Marshal. I could not agree more."
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4 July 1502, the Imperial Throne Room
Emperor John I had been back on the throne for six months. He actually quite enjoyed working with the Senate -- an homage to the Roman Republic that absolutely begged to be made, the Assembly of Nobles had voted for the change in name almost immediately. They made him think much more carefully about making decisions.
Formally, the Senate met once a month. Since many of them had other duties as well, one day a month was about as frequently as they could meet. However, they all exchanged letters with each other, which was fine with John I. It made actual voting go much more quickly when they did need to meet. As Emperor, he was given the right to order an emergency session of the Senate whenever he needed to make a major decision -- and a major one needed to be made, and soon.
He'd sent out the notices two weeks earlier; he mostly had to allow for Tiberius Graecus, as he lived the farthest from Florence of any Duke. As they arrived, all gathered in the Throne Room. John had used some funds to expand the Throne Room and add a large table; in effect, the Throne Room was now also the Council Chamber. As Tiberius Graecus walked through the door, John was slightly concerned -- Publius Cato was not there. He turned to ask his brother, Sextus, where Publius was.
"Emperor, I regret to inform you that my brother has taken ill. He is in good spirits, but the doctor has ordered him not to make any major trips for another two weeks. With your permission, one of his sons, Marius, is waiting outside; he has full authorization from his father to act on his behalf and vote."
John nodded, and motioned for Marius Porcius Cato to enter. The charming young lad -- just now entering his majority at age 16 -- bowed to everybody in the room, then took his father's seat. His twin brother, Marcus, was at home tending to their father. They might be twins, but Marcus was much more introspective and quiet than his brother. A family joke was that he was really Sextus's son, and not Publius's, which always horrified his uncle.
With all ten Senators present, as well as General Grimaldi, John I laid out his dilemma. "As you all know, during the most recent war, Foreign Minister Bizzelli took the initiative and, at my request, claimed the throne of Milan. I have recently learned that the King of Milan has a new heir. When the King dies -- and I have heard he is quite ill -- his heir will take over the throne, eliminating my claim to the throne. If I -- or my successors -- inherit the throne of Milan, at some point in the future, Austria cannot request we turn over our lands, and thus, we will be able to proclaim the Empire of Italy, giving us formal claims on many of our neighbors and allowing us to, finally, unify the Italian peninsula.
"Our only recourse is to declare war on Milan to force the formation of the Personal Union. This will negate the heir's claim. Foreign Minister Bizzelli thinks it is quite likely that we will end up at war with most of Italy over this issue; here is his report."
"Marshal, how is the rebuilding of the army coming?"
Marshal Germanicus opened his satchel and took out a report. "We have about 15,000 men -- the Legio II 'Sicilia' is intact, we are in the process of formally forming another Legion as we speak. Every province has been ordered to raise as many troops as they can; it may take us another six months to get back to full strength, however."
John I shook his head. "That's not fast enough; could we succeed with what we have or will have soon?"
Andreas carefully considered the list of enemies. "The only countries who are likely to be a direct threat are Savoy, Genoa, and Milan. I do not think any of these countries have access through Austria, which eliminates Aquelia, Baden, and Wurtemburg. We are now strong enough to neutralize the Venetian navy, so they are little concern. I think we can manage, with skilled leadership and our allies."
John nodded. "Minister, what of our allies?"
Pietro consulted his records. "Parma and our vassals will certainly answer the call. Sweden, however, is in the midst of a bloody war with Finland and Pskov; it is almost guaranteed they would refuse, and that is a valuable alliance to maintain, at the moment."
"Very well; let us contact Ferrara, Modena, and Parma individually. Notify Sweden of our intentions, but assure them we do not require support. Gentlemen, are there any questions?"
General Grimaldi raised his hand. "Emperor, what objectives should we pursue in this war, apart from the Personal Union?"
Emperor John smiled. "An excellent question. Any recommendations, Marshal?"
"Our paramount concern is Milan, obviously. Secondary objectives could include vassalizing the other states that enter the war; I am fearful of annexing any territory directly, as that could give Austria a license to intervene."
At this, Foreign Minister Bizzelli rose. "Emperor, I have consulted the records of the Holy Roman Empire -- the provinces of Istria and Sardinia do not belong to the Damned German Empire, and we could safely add those, if we have the opportunity."
The Emperor now formally requested the vote, with no further questions or comments. It was unanimous -- war was to be declared on Milan. The Imperial War Council would be the Emperor, Marshal Germanicus, Chancellor Gathenhielm, and Foreign Minister Bizzelli. Despite many pleading attempts, Duke Tiberius Graecus was not welcome. The Emperor actually had considered revoking his patent of nobility, but the Senate would not hear of it; if only in memory of the service of his grandfather and father, the Duchy of Constantinople must remain in the hands of the Graecus family.
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4 August 1502, Camp of the Legio II 'Sicilia', Ancona
General Grimaldi hurried along preparations as quickly as possible. The Second Great Italian War was every bit as intense as the first one had been, several years ago. Three battles, at this very moment, were proceeding -- the Battle of Parma, with the Legio I 'Imperator' against 5000 Genoese; the Battle of Verona, with 13,000 Venetians against a mere 5000 Tuscans; and a naval battle between the Classis I 'Byzantia' and the fleet of Aquelia.
Marshal Germanicus had temporarily taken command in Parma while General Grimaldi led the Second Legion north to join in the Battle of Verona; a search for a second qualified General had been largely unsuccessful. He knew that with each passing day, the Battle of Verona could be lost; thankfully, they could retreat to Austrian territory, thanks to the military access agreement that had been one of the few diplomatic bright spots during the Ottoman War.
As men hurried to put on their armor, General Grimaldi hoped the Marshal knew what he was doing; he couldn't face losing another four legions over some pointless cause.
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15 August 1502, the Imperial War Room
Marshal Germanicus was both pleased and depressed. The battle of Parma had been a tremendous success, and even now the First Legion was advancing on Lombardia. They had thrown back the Aquelian navy, capturing a cog in the process.
Unfortunately, the Second Legion could not get to Verona in time. They retreated into Austrian territory, where they could recover their strength.
The Emperor was actually holding a memorial service for the families of those who had died in both battles; a big change from his attitude in the last war, where men were simply expendable. This gratified Andreas to no end. General Grimaldi was now overall commander in the field; he was on his way to Verona, to drive out the enemy. Another 6000 men were being trained and issued arms in Florence; the Marshal personally trained this group, for once acting only as a Commandant, his real passion.
Privately, Andreas Germanicus knew he would retire at the end of this war; between the political intrigues and raising his family, he had about all he could take. He still hoped for a Duchy, but even if he didn't get one, he was much more at ease, and knew his family was well provided for. Gaius had wanted to enlist in one of the legions, but he was too young -- only 10 years old. His daughter, Andrea, was very beautiful, and was being courted by many suitors. They would both live good lives, and what else could a father hope for?
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18 September 1502, the Chancellor's office
Axel Gathenhielm was a bit uneasy. The Emperor had proclaimed today "Victory Day" because of the two decisive battles that had just been resolved.
Axel was concerned, however. The economy was terrific; there was no question of being able to pay the troops. He trusted Andreas' judgment implicitly, and even he seemed in good spirits. He was still worried, though, because his younger brother Gustav, following in Axel's footsteps, had enlisted in the fleet. Tuscany had the finest navy in Italy, there was no question about that. Even the best navy still suffered casualties, and Gustav had absolutely no business being on a boat to begin with. He was very prone to seasickness, and what was worse, had lost an eye in a duel back in Sweden -- that was why he had joined the army to begin with. Still, Gustav was insistent, and the Emperor had made a special exemption to get him into the navy.
He had a feeling the war was from over; two successes, no matter how impressive, did not usually win a war.
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23 December 1502, Brescia, Austria
Aleandro del Moro, second son of the Duke of Sicily, was a member of the Legio II 'Sicilia' in the Ottoman War. He'd been named Commander of the Legion because of his father, but had earned it with his extraordinary charisma and personal courage on the battlefield. When the Legio I 'Imperator' was reformed, he was named Commander, with a promise that he would be promoted, should he achieve success. The Battle of Lombardia -- in which the King of Savoy had personally led the army -- was not decisive, but it was a victory nonetheless, and Lombardia fell a few days later, with him in command.
General Grimaldi, a brilliant mind in his own right, recommended del Moro for a promotion and a decoration; in command of the Second Legion, he'd ordered the assault on Lombardy and personally put del Moro in charge of the assaulting force. His conduct and skill were exemplary.
Needless to say, he was not very happy when he heard that a new General had been selected and would be taking a special detachment-- 6000 cavalry -- to assist Ferrara in Verona. Alex -- as he preferred to be called -- was even madder that, apparently, the new General had asked he become his chief of staff, instead of staying with the Legion, where he belonged. What General had the gall to demand he be demoted?
As he griped to himself about being passed over for promotion, a huge commotion overtook the entire camp. Many were bowing, saluting, and falling all over themselves to greet the new general. This made Alex even more furious, and he stormed off to see who this idiot was, who dared to take his promotion. As he approached the new general in the distance, prepared to give him a peace of his mind, he gaped when he saw the very particular armor of the House of Datti; the Emperor himself was taking command!
Alex was simultaneously embarrassed and relieved; he saluted Emperor John I and smiled nervously. The Emperor returned the salute and the smile.
"Ah, Aleandro del Moro, I presume? You've done very well -- General Grimaldi speaks very highly of you. Marshal Germanicus assured me that you were perfectly capable of handling this assignment yourself; however, I think I have something to prove to my men, given my ghastly performance against the Ottomans, and so I have taken charge of this detachment personally. However, given my inexperience in the field, I will leave most matters in your capable hands; I will just take the credit, as is the general's prerogative." He chuckled at his own joke; Alex chimed in, more out of politeness than out of genuine amusement.
"Commander, lead the way. I expect a full report on your men. We ride at dawn!"
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16 January 1503, Verona, Milan
Casualties had been horrendous -- 5 out of every 6 men were dead. The early scouting reports were wrong; the Venetians had infantry, not just cavalry. The small Ferraran attachment was nearly useless; they were all exhausted from repeated engagements. However, despite the casualties, Emperor John I had won the day in his first battle.
Alex del Moro wiped his brow, barely even able to lift his hand. He was absolutely exhausted, but amazed both at his own performance and the Emperor's. They were outnumbered and outmaneuvered at almost every turn; Leonardo Veniero was a brilliant tactician. In the end, Emperor John himself had let the charge that broke the enemy and sent them fleeing into Austrian lands. The Emperor of Austria, out of respect for Tuscany, had promised to only give them 24 hours; with infantry of his own on the way, John I was prepared to fight again.
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1 May 1503, the Doge's palace in Venice
Emperor John I grinned from ear to ear. Thanks to skillful maneuvers by Alex del Moro and his own tenacity, they had defeated the Venetian army in two straight battles and had seized the city of Venice.
While the Venetian provinces in Greece were safe, for the moment, it was only a matter of time, and John I knew the Doge desperately wanted peace. As Emperor, he made all treaties, although they needed to be approved by the Senate, but he had a feeling this one would be. Venice would free all of her Greek provinces; these countries, in turn, had already signed signed alliances with the Empire of Tuscany. In exchange, Venice would be neither vassalized nor annexed; the Doge was free to go about his business, provided he never troubled the Empire of Tuscany again. The Doge was almost trembling with relief as he signed.
The new kingdoms of Crete, Epirus, and Albania pledged eternal brotherhood with the Empire of Tuscany. This would also serve to check the expansion of Austria, or so he hoped, as it would keep them from expanding farther into the Balkans. As liberators, Tuscany would undertake no infamy; a glorious day all around! He'd also gotten peace feelers from Savoy; they were offering a white peace, and he planned to accept that as well.
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11 September 1503, the Imperial War Room
Marshal Germanicus could not be happier. General Grimaldi had won a decisive victory in Lombardia on 20 July 1503, eliminating the entire army of Milan.
A second victory, although not as decisive, eventually forced Genoa to come to terms.
The peace treaty with Genoa was far less lenient than what Venice had received; unlike Venice, Genoa was a one province nation, and that meant she could be annexed. To avoid angering the Emperor of Austria, John I agreed that the Doge of Genoa would simply swear eternal fealty to the Emperor of Tuscany; in exchange for this pledge of vassalage, Genoa would maintain some level of independence.
Only two powers remained -- Aquelia and Milan. As Milan was alliance leader, Aquelia needed to be confronted next.
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26 January 1504, Legionary Camp in Friuli, Aquelia
Carlo Savonarola, the new General of Imperial Forces, had not expected such a rapid promotion. Two unexpected deaths had placed him in an exalted position. Bartolomeo del Moro and his first son, Giacopo, had been assassinated by a disgruntled Baron, angry that the Emperor refused to make him a count, mostly because the Baron in question was not only corrupt, but incredibly stupid to boot. The Baron was arrested and executed for treason in record time -- the Imperial Senate wasted absolutely no time in passing judgment -- but Alex del Moro was now the Duke of Sicily, and had to return home to deal with his affairs.
On 30 September 1503, General Cosimo Grimaldi also passed away; as the Legions had marched east, through Austrian lands, some bad water gave the General dysentery, and he died shortly afterwards. Savonarola was the most experienced officer left in the army, and although he had neither the brilliance of Grimaldi or the charisma of del Moro, he'd been in the legions for over twenty years and had risen from a common soldier during the war between Milan and Parma to Commander of the Third Legion. He liked to drink and have a good time, but his stamina was incredible, often living off of 15 minutes of sleep during war. Three wives had already left him -- he was rarely, if ever, home, and more often than not took whatever companionship he could find out in the field. He had no children (that he knew of), but he was still pleased with the promotion and the higher salary. You no longer earned an automatic patent of nobility as a General, which was fine with him. He had no desire for estates, or riches -- just good wine, good friends, and good fights.
His victory at Friuli had been costly -- he'd taken far more casualties than the enemy -- but the ground was not ideal for combat; as the enemy army was on the run, he was certain that Aquelia was doomed. As he advanced, 7000 troops were sailing to Sardinia, to assist the small Modena detachment.
Victory was near -- he could practically taste it.
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9 October 1504, the Imperial Palace
The entire Senate was gathered. This was another big vote, after all, even though it was merely a formality, in most eyes.
General Savonarola had defeated the army of Aquelia with ease, and their navy soon followed. It was only a matter of time before they surrendered, after the Battle of Görz in February, which ended the threat of Aquelia's army.
Aquelia sued for peace, but the demands were high.
On 9 September 1504, Malta, Messina, and Palermo were officially declared "core lands" of the Empire of Tuscany. A ruthless but necessary campaign by Duke Alex del Moro rooted out the last few Sicilian nationalists; they were all executed, many said by Duke del Moro personally. However, along with Umbrian and Lombard, Sicilian was now an accepted culture in the Empire of Tuscany, to the delight of many.
It took another month, mostly because there were so few diplomats to be had, but Milan had finally agreed to a peace treaty with the Empire of Tuscany.
The vote took less than a minute. It was unanimous; Milan and Tuscany were now ruled by Emperor John I.
In the eyes of everybody at the table, his bravery in battle and his conduct had been exemplary. He'd atoned for his mistakes in the war with the Ottomans, and had even set aside some lands in Florence for an orphanage for those who had lost their parents in war. As he basked in the glory, Emperor John I rose.
"I have a few announcements, gentlemen, then you can all join the celebration of our victory. First, I have the privilege of assigning three new Duchies. Given their years of exemplary service, I hope you will all join me in congratulating Bonaventura Bizzelli, Duke of Istria, and Axel Gathenhielm, Duke of Sardinia."
The applause was thunderous. As many rose to leave, the Emperor waved them down. "Excuse me, gentlemen, but I believe I said
three Duchies. Although I am now the Emperor of both Milan and Tuscany, I cannot properly administer them both. Until the lands officially become part of the Imperial heritage, I am creating a Duchy of Milan. Our new Duke will be none other than our brave Marshal, Andreas Germanicus!"
At this last statement, everybody not only applauded, but rose to their feet. Andreas' eyes teared up -- he'd finally made it! He'd accomplished everything he'd ever set out to do, since he'd left Mecklenburg all those years ago. He bowed and thanked everybody profusely; the adulation lasted for almost ten minutes before the room began to clear. Andreas was the last one, along with the Emperor.
"Andreas, before you go, I understand you had something to ask of me?"
He wiped his eyes, and then nodded. "Emperor, I would ask you to select a new Marshal of the Empire. I've been waiting for the right moment to retire, and I think this is it. If you want my recommendation, Alex del Moro would be the best choice; Carlo is a great General, but he loves being in the field too much."
John I quickly agreed to both. "I trust your judgment, Andreas, as well as my own. Alex will be a superb Marshal; I'll have a palace aide stop him before he gets back to Sicily. I want to thank you personally for your years of service. I also hear that Andrea has married a Count back in Mecklenburg and is on her way back to Germany; please pass along my congratulations. She is a fine woman, and I hope they will be very happy. I know we have never been the closest of friends; after all, we've imprisoned each other. Nevertheless, as a small token of my gratitude, I am also knighting you Sir Andreas Germanicus, Order of the Empire of Tuscany. You are in elite company; only Marcus Porcius Cato Maior has ever received the honor. May God bless you, Andreas, and your children."
Andreas, again with tears in his eyes, gave a very crisp salute, then with his back straight, turned around and left. The Empire was in excellent hands; John had grown more in the last three years than he had in the first twenty or so he'd been alive. Andreas would still attend every Council meeting -- it was his duty as the Duke of Milan, after all -- but he could sleep confidently, every night, knowing that John I was the Emperor of Tuscany.
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I'm now just about entirely caught up, game play wise -- I've got about half of another update ready, but I'd like to try to flesh it out a little more. I think this more than makes up for the disaster against the Ottomans -- a PU with Milan, Genoa as my vassal, Venice as an OPM, and two new provinces that I should get cores on (possibly; not sure about Istria) once I form Italy. Not a bad day's work, if I say so myself.