Going South
The Fearless Pope - A short Study of Boniface IX and his Times
by Cosimo Alentini
The so-called Sienese Pretender was never a serious threat to Duke Gian Galeazzo, but this ambitious man saw a chance to fabricate a pretext for further expansion. He spread about word that the Pretender had been encouraged and supported in his efforts by Pope Boniface. This was clearly ridiculous, for the Pope at that time was busily engaged in subduing the indepdent lords of Urbino in an attempt to reclaim the ancient Papal domains.
Gian waited until the New Year, 1401, before launching his attack. Having suborned the rulers of Modena into allowing his troops passage, they fell upon the Romagna and quickly spread through that countryside, taking what strong points they could, and besieging those they could not. The Duke did not, of course, join his troops. He had other things to do, like commisoning a painting celebrating the fall of the pitiful pretender.
Pope Boniface, faced with this invasion, and knowing that he was outnumbered, nevertheless held steadfast to his first goal of bringing the rebellious Lords of Urbino to justice, a solemn duty that was finally completed in May of that year. Seeing that he was unlikely to triumph in an assault on the Milanese army, he instead lead his troops back to Rome, where new recruits waited, and then marched north to Siena. He hoped to rally the Sienese, but first would have to remove the Milanese garrison that was still strong. However, Boniface was skilled in the ways of smoking out a garrison, and quickly began to remove the garrisons of Siena. He was aware however that on the other side of the peninsular the rapacious Milanese, who though not able were no slouches, were busy. In a base move, the Milanese finally forced the surrender of the towns by laying out the harvest for all to see, and then burning a portion it each day. To save their children from starvation, the gates were opened and the Milanese took the last strong places in Romagna late in November.
Knowing that it would not be long before the Milanese were upon him, Pope Boniface made ready to appeal to the Sienese. They could see that only Siena itself was still firmly held against him, and even there the garrison was starting to waver. If only the Sienese would rise up and take arms, then the disparity in numbers would seem as nothing. But before His Holiness made his call, the treacherous Milanese appeared marching through Tuscany. It seems that the city council of Florence, craven and spineless, allowed itself to be bribed by Duke Gian into letting his soldiers pass through.
His Holiness knew everything now hung in the balance, and gave battle. Although surprised by the appearance of his enemies, they were soon startled by the ferocity of his defence and the determination of his men, but despite skirmishes that took the better part of a whole month, finally Boniface had to abandon his siege and retire towards Rome. The Milanese pursued vengefully, and woefully the Pontiff direted his soldiers to Urbino where he hoped to regather strength … but it was not to be. His army exhausted and splintering, Pope Boniface was eventually persuaded to take a ship from Ancona.
Duke Gian meanwhile sat happy with the successes of his men, and raised a new army back in the Po regions while his old began to devastate Urbino. This new army the Duke directed to Rome itself, which they invested. For all of the next year the Pope tried to rally support, but the princes of Europe were slow and much taken with their own affairs. The Pope's own ally of Sardinia was unable to help, as rebellion had wracked the island.
In the spring of 1403, Pope Bonfice heard that Ancona had finally opened its gates to the Milanese after a starving winter, and that all the talk was that the two Milanese armies would join forces beneath the walls of Rome, in preparation for an assault that would surely leave the Eternal City pillaged. With heavy heart he sent a messenger to Duke Gian, offering the villainous Duke ”stewardship” of Romagna and Urbino. This was a mere fiction however, because Gian had made it clear that he wished rulership and nothing else. The Pope also emptied his personal coffers, so to save the Holy City. This at least the base Duke allowed, since it suited his purpose and made him appear magnaminous, or so he thought.
In truth, the whole world knew that he had falsely forced war upon the Pope, and now back in Rome Boniface began to consider how to right the wrongs Duke Gian had caused. The first avanue to pursue was Emperor Zigismund, the King of Bohemia. It proved unexpectedly easy. However, the Emperor played false, rather than demand the release of the Pope's lands, he sent a message asking the Duke to allow the people of Pisa to be their own masters as they had been in times beforehand. Needless the say the Duke scorned this offer, but in secret he was troubled, as can be seen by the cowardly alliance he later made with Austria, not to mention the dynastic alliance he secured with other noble houses throughout southern Germany, hoping to put off any Imperial chastisement.
The Pope was not yet finished, and in the summer of 1405 his patient diplomacy brought a greater reward, when the Geonese and others petitioned him to Excommunicate Duke Gian Galeazzo – a petition that Boniface was happy to grant. Surely now, seeing this, the Lords of Christendom would bring this Milanese lout low? This scourge, who flaunted himself, who proud of his family had formally presented his heir with a full month of buffoonery and balderdash, including a hideous tapestry commerating the the squabble with the Pretender, and commissioning a seemingly endless series of artworks. The only apparent response to his excommunication was to order the construction of a new Church in Verona, something paid for by an increase in tax revenues following the appointment of a new group of bureaucratic officials.
Incompetent Diplomacy (Infamy +1)
National Idea: Bureaucracy
3 or 4 paintings commission, Tapestry Commissioned, and Heir proclaimed
Gameplay
Well, I was wrong, I was in fact still in 1400. A quick survey of my situation there, for those that do not know Milan's starting situation. Milan has the provinces of Lombardia, Brescia, Verona, Parma, Cremona, Pisa, and Siena; and has cores on all but the last two (which still have nationalism). The provinces of Parma, Pisa, and Siena have universities. The below also shows my advisors.
In retrospect, I made a mistake declaring war on the Papal States when I did. If I had waited until they had annexed Urbino i think (and please correct me if I am wrong) I may have gotten a casus belli. As it was I did not. The war itself was fairly straightfoward however, and during it I finally read the mission text I had (expand size of army) which I did. The next mission was to get Trier to vote for me.
The request from the Emperor to release Pisa was unwelcome, and I definitely decided not to do it. The alliance with Austria may be something of a poisoned chalice, but will hopefully serve its purpose in shielding me. My one worry is that it may get me into wars I do not want, but we shall see. Meanwhile Bohemia has gotten itself mostly tied down with other wars, and I did actually get a Royal Marriage with them which I hope will also deflect attention. The Excommunication came on behalf of Genoa – and I really do not know what to do about that.
I cancelled the mission for Trier when they became vassalised by Burgundy, and my next mission is to vassalise the Papal States, which due to the Excommunication I am looking forward to doing with, I must say, a certain amount of relish.
It is now the summer of 1406. Prestige is 13, Infamy is 9.2, Legitimacy is 100, Inflation at 0.8, Stability at +3. I am pursuing Production and Trade 4 now. Am wondering about mass building Churches as I can afford them. Given I have four non-cores and five cores I am going to halt any actual acquisitions now I think until I get some cores. I may try to vassalise Mantua at some juncture, however.