Royal Court of Naples

[Beherovek]

Royal Court of Naples

The Kingdom of Naples occupies the Italian peninsula south of the Papal States.

It comprises roughly the regions of Campania, Abruzzi, Molise, Basilicata, Apulia, and Calabria. Naples (Napoli) is the capital.

National statistics

Nations: Naples
Head of State: Rene d`Anjou
Player: Beherovek
Religion: Catholic
Culture: Italian
Stats: 1/1/3/4/2 --> [1/1/3/4/2]
Provinces: 2
Ports: 2
Owned: Napoli, Apulia

[Beherovek]

The house of Anjou

René I (fra) Renato I (ita/spa) Renatus I (lat) Renátó I (hun)

King of Naples, Sicily, Jerusalem, Duke of Anjou, Bar, Lorraine, Count of Provence, Marshal of France. Married to Isabelle de Lorraine.

BIOGRAPHY

AGE 46

1409 - born in Chateau d'Angers of Louis II duke of Anjou and Provence and Yolande of Aragon

1419 - his granduncle, the Cardinal Louis duke of Bar, adopted him as inheritor of the Duchy of Bar

1420 - was married to Isabelle, heiress of Lorraine

DECSRIPTION

Jean I (fra) / Jan I (pol/lit)

Duke of Calabria. Married to Marie de Bourbon.

BIOGRAPHY

AGE 30

1425 - born in Nancy

DECSRIPTION

René II

Count of Mayenne, single, seeking a wife. (Regent of Anjou)

BIOGRAPHY

AGE 29

1426 - born in Nancy

Yolande

Married to Henryk, son of Emperor Joachim.

Marguerite

Single, seeking a husband.

Louis

Count of Ligny, single, seeking a wife. (Regent of Bar)

BIOGRAPHY

AGE 28

1427 - born in Nancy

DECSRIPTION

Jeanne

Engaged to Johann Frederick, son of Duke Johann of Brandenburg.

Catherine

Single, seeking a husband.

Nikolas

Marshal of Naples. Single, seeking a wife.

BIOGRAPHY

AGE 27

1428 - born in Nancy

Marie

Engaged to Basil III, King of Sicily and Emperor of Rome.

Philippe

Infant.

[Beherovek]

HISTORY

In the 11th and 12th cent. the Normans under Robert Guiscard and his successors seized S Italy from the Byzantines. The popes, however, claimed suzerainty over S Italy and were to play an important part in the history of Naples. In 1139 Roger II, Guiscard's nephew, was invested by Innocent II with the kingdom of Sicily, including the Norman lands in S Italy. The last Norman king designated Constance, wife of Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI, as his heir and the kingdom passed successively to Frederick II, Conrad IV, Manfred, and Conradin of Hohenstaufen. Under them S Italy flowered, but in 1266 Charles I (Charles of Anjou), founder of the Angevin dynasty, was invested with the crown by Pope Clement IV, who wished to drive the Hohenstaufen family from Italy. Charles lost Sicily in 1282 but retained his territories on the mainland, which came to be known as the kingdom of Naples. Refusing to give up their claim to Sicily, Charles and his successors warred with the house of Aragon, which held the island, until in 1373 Queen Joanna I of Naples formally renounced her claim.

During her reign began the struggle for succession between Charles of Durazzo (later Charles III of Naples) and Louis of Anjou (Louis I of Naples). The struggle was continued by their heirs. Charles's descendants, Lancelot and Joanna II, successfully defended their thrones despite papal support of their French rivals, but Joanna adopted as her heir Alfonso V of Aragon.

Soon after Alfonso was adopted as Joanna's heir, things began to unravel for the Angevin Empire. Neapolitan soldiers, in a daring war, conquered Jerusalem in a new crusade. The new King of Jerusalem, Joanna's brother Charles of Anjou, went mad shortly after his accession, and adopted Islam. The Kingdom of Jerusalem was extinguished by the Habsburgs, and several years later, passed to the current King of Portugal. In Naples, things were rapidly deteriorating for Joanna. Erick, another brother, overthrow Joanna and installed himself as King. Joanna and several of her sisters wandered to England.. where something remarkable took place.

Joanna, thought to be a weak ruler, was granted the Duchy of Normandy by the King of England, and proved to be one of the major personalities in what eventually became known as the Hundred Years War. Her influence extended far beyond Normandy, and her name, to this day, is still spoken of in awe as Joanna the Great. Eventually, her line died out, for her marriage to Humphrey of Brittany did not produce any heirs, since Humphrey died in battle against the men of the Dauphin of France. After the peace was signed, Joanna quietly governed Normandy for a few years, and then, due to ill health and English pressured, abdicated and lived for many years in England.. but not before naming René of Anjou, instead of Alfonso of Aragon, to be her heir.

But, René was occupied elsewhere. While René was busy fighting the Hundred Years War, Naples descended into anarchy. Countless adventurers from the northern Italian states, in succession, conquered, and then were deposed by another. Most notably, the Sforzas. The Sforza dynasty of Naples quickly tore itself apart from infighting, however, with 3 unrecognized and illegal monarchs quickly taking, then losing, Naples. Daniel of Sforza, his sister, Louisa, her son, Charles-Phillipe, all quickly followed each other in succession. It was during Charles-Phillipe's reign that the Kingdom of Naples became a satellite in Aragon's orbit.

Next, Sergio of Durazzo invaded Naples. Charles-Phillipe was murdered, and Sergio and his band of brigands ruled the Kingdom. The vassalage continued, and the Sforzas were chased from Naples. However, this "King" was also proved to be shortlived, ousted by.. none other, than Joanna the Great, who had massed a great army and reconquered what was hers. Joanna's new rule over Naples was shortlived though, and she died on a cold, rainy day. By this time, however, Alfonso of Aragon had finally had enough.

Giovanni III Julian, son of Giovanna II Julian, brought the news of Alfonso's inherited kingdom to him in Valencia. He accepted his new kingdom and prepared to be crowned for it. Giovanni was granted a viceroyalty over Naples. He sent a portion of the viceregal treasury to Transylvania to defend the interests of Catholicism there. Alfonso went into a rage and was greedy for just the slightest dime. He invaded Naples and imprisoned Giovanni. His nephew, Andrea Julian, now acted as his regent and is leading partisan resistence in Naples. However, Alfonso's greed got the better of him, and he was slain at the gates of Napoli. Naples continued as an Aragonese vassal.. for a few short years.

[Beherovek]

4- under construction

[Beherovek]

5- under construction

[Beherovek]

6- under construction

[Beherovek]

and 7

[Longinus]

In rather small intervals of time, two letters arrive in Naples, both are from the members of the House of Gryphon.

Onto Rene d’Anjou, King of Naples, Sicily, Jerusalem, Count of Bar and Provence, Marshal of France,

Your Majesty, esteemed kinsman,

We have been forced to write this massive as the recent news from Burgundy grows more and more alarming with each passing day. It would appear that rebels, led by a certain imposter, Benjamin and Jew from Alsace, who is styling himself on Philippe du Berry, son of Marie du Berry, took Dijon and the Royal Court by treachery during the last winter. The rebels killed the good king Louis with cold blood, showing no mercy. Fortunately Queen Anna, our sister and daughter, managed to escape and is now trying to stand against the odds in a secured place somewhere in Burgundy.

Perhaps Your Grace has heard of the Royalists finally raising their heads and defending the rightful Queen against the rebels? It is our belief that we must help Her Majesty and the Union of Starssburg with all our might and to put the rebellion down without mercy.

Taking into consideration the eternal bonds of alliance, friendship and blood between our Houses, we ask you to help us to counter the foulness of the regicides by all possible means. Through your political influences and perhaps even military might.

Enclosed, we send you a text of the proclamation we have prepared during our stay in Gelre. Sometimes, political pressure means more than the swords and lances. We kindly ask Your Grace to sign it for the sake of Queen Marie and her mother. (ooc: in the Nat stats)

We await for any insights and thoughts on the matter while simultaneously we wish Your Majesty best health and fortune.

United we shall prevail.

Given in Stettin,

Casmir of the Greif, King of Sweden, Duke of Pommerania, Duke of Braunschweig-Lüneburg, Grubenhagen and Wolfenbüttel, Duke of Poznan, Margrave of Danzig, Prince-Protector of Sweden, Overlord of Ingermanland, Kexholm, Memel and Gotland, Master of the Imperial Hunt.

Christine von der Greif-Wittelsabch, Dowager Queen of Sweden, Dowager Duchesse of Pommernia, Hannover and Poznan.

Proclamation of Zupten

We, the undersigned proclaim the following.

That we greatly despise the regicides and rebels who rose against their most rightful King and Queen, acting against their will and the will of Almighty God who put the Royalty on the throne to take care of his sheep. Truly there is no excuse for those who act against the will of their God.

That we hold in highest disregard those who provoked this shameful act and will never let them into our lands, and should they tresspass our lands they shall be hunted down as the worst criminals and eventually find their death through humiliation and strangulation.

That we support the only and true Queen and Duchesse, that is Marie II du Berry, daughter of the late King Louis du Berry and Queen Anna du Griffon.

That we call upon all nobles, burghers and peasants of Lotharingia who foolishly followed the regicides or were fooled by them, to renounce any ties to them, if they have any, with the devilish imposter and murderer styling himself as Philippe du Berry. Should you not do so, not only hellfire awaits you in the miserable afterlife, but also your lands will be treated with fire and sword, until such time comes that the rightful Queen shall be restored to her throne. Those who hesitated before, raise your arms against the usurper and beg your rightful Queen for forgiveness. Those how will do so shall undoubtedly meet their rewards both in the mundane and after lives.

Signed on this 28th day of February in the Year of Our Lord MCDLIV in Zupten, on the Saints Romanus and Lupicinus day, God Almighty be our witness.

*****

Next letter reads.

Your Majesty, beloved Father,

The snows have finally melted here in Naples and together with Marquis Ludvico di Salluzzo we are preparing to cross the Alps and help my sister Anna in her struggle against the rebels in Burgundy.

Sadly, I took only 200 men with me and long to see a greater force under the banners of d’Anjou. Please father, support the rightful Queen and your kin, the Gryphons, give me more men and horses. I swear I will bring glory to Anjou, I swear that I would rather die than bring the shame instead. Our quest is simple and we hear that entire Empire, even Gaul join in the fight against this imposter Philippe. Trust me judgment in this case, support given in this affair might return tenfold at some point.

I pray Yolande and our children fare well, I wish I could be a better father for young Rene, alas my responsibilities toward the House of Anjou prevail.

I await any news from Naples with great anticipation.

Given in Salluzzo,

Henryk of the Greif, Prince of Naples and Pommernia, Count of Spychow and Louhans.

[Bagricula]

A private letter arrives for Jean Angevin, King of Naples, bearing the personal seal of His Holiness. It reads thusly:

"Mi filius carus,

I implore you, do not become a puppet of ambitious noblemen lustful for wealth and power, do not fall further along the path your father took when he sought war against the King of Sicily, do not fall away from the light of Christ's salvation. Return to the guidance of the Holy See and let peace return to Italy, for when Italy heartland of Christendom is divided, how may we stand against the heathen invader? We may not, mi filius.

Your oathbreaking has removed you from the Communion of the Church, and dashed any aspirations for your soul to achieve a humble place among the heavenly hosts. Do not tempt the men of the cloth, who in their great hearts may pity your plight, and offer you the simulacrum of the Sacrements. These would only be simulacrums, powerless to renew your spirit or exalt your soul, and these actions would only lead those goodly men into error.

In a short time, a great council will commence to renew the Church for the new age, and so I implore you again not to fall further from the Church in these momentous times. There is no dishonor in wisdom, nor disgrace in humility. We are all subjects of God's Providence, and it is the blind fool who thinks himself free of God's law.

Ad Maiorem Gloriam Dei,
Nicholas V P.P."

Letters from the appropriate dicasteries and congregations are sent to all the bishops of Naples, informing them of the error of their King and instructing them in the proper censure of Jean Angevin and those that would aid him in his falling away from the Church.

[AugCaesar]

A letter arrives from Castille.



His Majesty Rene d'Anjou,

Glorious is your Majesty for offering assitance to mine wars against the infidels, but alas my war is nearly over for in two great battles much of the flower of my chivalry and the sturdiest ships of my navy have been lost. I have controlled the moorish rebellion in my lands and stopped the Zayyanid invasion, but no more can I do. I, as I trust that you will, put my faith now in the indomitable Joao II Duarte, King of Portugal who organizes a crusade against the infidels of North Africa. It is to him who you should tender your offers of assistance, for the only use your funds would be to me would be in repayment of loans, a task for less noble than that of Holy Crusade. It pleases me that stability seems to have returned to your realm, ever an important and strong bulwark against the inroads of the Mohammedan. I should like to send unto your court a man of my own to act as my envoy if you should so like and of course welcome any of your court into my castle at Penafiel. God speed unto you.

Enrique IV de Trastamara, Rey de Castile y Leon

[I Killed Kenny]

To Jean II d`Anjou, Duca di Calabria

Your Grace, you and your men are most welcome to come to join the Holy Cruzade. The Harbors of Lisboa are already full of Cruzaderes ready to sail towards Africa. For that We ask that your grace to come as soon as possible.
And your Grace may come with how many knighs as your grace wants, for as many the better!

We apoligese to write such a small letter but We must hurry!

Signed,

[SaT]

Onto His Honour Lord Alberto Cola, Constable of the Kingdom of Naples


Your Honour,

Her Royal Majesty the Queen-Regent of Lotharingia sends her greetings and salutation to Your Honour and to the knights Your Honour commandeers. She also wishes to present Your Honour with the banner of Her Majesty the Queen Marie of Lotharingia, to be used by Your Honour during the campaign.

The Neapolitan army may safely disembark at the port of Nizza. From there, Your Honour is asked to lead them through the Col di Tenda toward the city of Torino, where the army of the Duke of Piemonte is gathering. I have consulted with marshal Francesco di Savoia-Racconigi, and the maresciallco thinks it would advisable and beneficial if the two armies advanced to Lotharingia together.

I wish you success and glory on the upcoming campaign, etc. etc.



Written in Torino, A.D. MCDLIV.

Ludovico di Saluzzo

Marchese di Saluzzo, Principe del Sacro Romano Imperio, Governatore e Capitano Generale del Ducato di Piemonte, Cavaliere dell’Ordine Supremo della Santissima Annunziata.

À Sa Majesté l’Illustrissime et Excellentissime René d’Anjou, Roi de Naples, de Sicilie, de Hongrie, de Jérusalem, Duc d’Anjou et de Bar, Comte de Provence, Maréchal de France.


Your Majesty,

Your most kind letter has brought much joy in Our grieving heart. Indeed, having such a famous knight like you on Our side is truly honouring. Your Majesty’s brave and loyal stand will never be forgotten by the House of Berry.

Know, King René, that We have always valued your art and your most esteemed person truly highly, just like Our late father and both of Our lamented husbands always did. And therefore We, regent and tutrice of our well-beloved daughter Marie de Berry, sovereign of the Most Illustrious Order of the Golden Fleece, considering Your Majesty’s famed chivalry, We wish to announce Our intention of inducting Your Majesty in the said Order as soon as the circumstances will allow Us to hold a proper ceremony.

We wish you to convey Our greetings to our in-law sister, the sweet Yolande, and also to Our niece and nephew. We hope We will be able to recieve them in Dijon soon.


Written by the hand of friar Jean-Pierre of the Benedictine order, in the Free Royal City of Saint-Claude, A.D. MCDLIV.

Anne du Griffon

Princesse Impériale, Reine Mère de Lotharingie, tutrice de sa très chère et très-aimé fille, Sa Majesté Marie II de Berry, par la Grâce de Dieu Reine de Lotharingie et Duchesse de Bourgogne, Deuxième Souveraine de l’Ordre de la Toison d’Or, Duchesse de Montpellier et de Savone, Comtesse de Montpensier, de Chiavaire, d’Impérie, etc. etc.

[Bagricula]

Another letter arrives for Jean d'Anjou, bearing the personal seal of the Holy Father. It reads thusly:

"Mi filius carus, Jean Angevin,

Your pleas for forgiveness and expressions of genuine repentence are appropriate and fitting, yet my confidence in your statements is shaken by the madness contained within your epistle, confirmed by an epistle from your own father. Do you mean to have abdicated your crown to your father, who in punishment for his warmongering against the Isle of Sicily whilst the Holy See was preparing for the recommunication of King Basil of Sicily was deposed and allowed to retire to a quiet gentlemanly life?

If truthfully you are repentent then you will ensure your father abandons his mad styles and accepts the quiet life of a retired gentleman and you will renew your oath of fealty to the Holy See forthwithly. In further penance, you are required should it be within the power of your kingdom to fight alongside His Most Faithful Majesty and my own armies in the war to liberate the Baleares and Malta from the infidel's clutches.

Ad Maiorem Gloriam Dei,
Nicholas V P.P."

A second letter arrives for Rene d'Anjou, reading as follows:

"Mi filius carissimus, Rene Angevin,

Abandon this madness, my son, for madness it surely is to strive against one's own blood and one's own Church to regain a crown once abdicated. Instead, take up a life of spiritual contemplation in preparation for the hereafter, for He shall come like a thief in the night.

Do not strive against your fellow men, but instead accept the path Providence has set before you. When your son restores his oath of fealty and joins the holy war to liberate the Mediterranean, then you may rest with the knowledge that your family line has ensured its place in the heavenly host.

I shall pray for you on my journey to Monte Cassino. Please pray not for me, but for the noble men who go to fight on Africa's shore.

Ad Maiorem Gloriam Dei,
Nicholas V P.P."

[Beherovek]

"CRUSADER VOW"

Chiesa di San Lorenzo Maggiore, Napoli

This sunny Sunday will be remembered by Neapolitians for a long time. The crowd which fills streets is even louder, brighter and thicker than usually in time of carnival. Everybody from homeless kids to nobles, from simple sailors to rich merchants, came to see the majestic procession of great knights departing for the Holy Crusade (as it was called by the clergy, most people called it a circuits though). Sons of almost all Neapolitan houses, those rich, beloved by King Rene d`Anjou, possessing great lands in the whole country, and those poor, forgotten in their wind-blowed castles on the east coasts of Apulia, march on the streets today. Today they all binded their fate together, and one who is now valuing the other with his eye, tomorrow could be his best comrade. Rich one who is now pushing through the others to get into the first place in procession, close to Prince Jean, might be begging tomorrow for help of the last one in these ranks.

The procession is led by Jean d`Anjou, Prince of Naples himself, who managed to gather a company of almost two hundreds knights. Smiling, he ride Azurro, the greatest stallion from the Royal stables, trying to remember as much as he can from this day. Faces, buildings, colours he might never see again, every single house he is passing by. Perhaps he is leaving all of it behind forever.

In a brief moment when the crowd got thicker and soldiers were doing their best to make a way for him, he took a look above. Sun blinds him at first, but after a second he`s able to notice dozens of people leaning out of the windows. As soon and they realise that he is looking at them, they start to wave with their hands and shout some words in their Neapolitan dialect.

When he enters the cathedral, noises fade. In the distance he notices a figure of the bishop in company of lesser priests. His father stands at their right with almost the whole of his family, brother and sisters look at him, some with coldness others with admiration, but Jean do not care for it at all, all he cares of it the Cross and the Savior who is looking at him with his omnipotent eyes.

It`s time to swear the oath he prepared for this very day, in silence, the pact only between him and the Almighty God. But after all this street noise, after his father glances he can`t remember the exact words he prepared before, and feels that all these two hundreds knights kneeing behind him, are like a burden, heavy like a sack of rocks. Still, he manages to utter a suitable declaration, not from the preachment but from the bottom of his heart. He speaks of the fight and holy flame that will purify the heathens, he speaks of the vows and obedience to God and he speaks of his sword, finally, above all, he speaks of his faith.
After the little bells ring, he stands and turns toward the nave. And one thing is sure now. From this day, every time he will turn back, the crowd facing him will thin away.

[Beherovek]

Few months ago...

In the cayute

Long sea travels are conductive to toughts. Small things become important. Rythm of meals becomes rhythm of your inert existence and losing your tunic button rises to range of an event of the day. It seems that essence of being a sailor is the way you contrive boredom, rather than storms. If you are accidental traveller it`s quite possible than before sinking in the ocean you will get drowned in your monotonous thoughts.

First minutes are filled with emotions of departure, and so felt Jean when crowd gathered in port was getting smaller and smaller, until the moment when only the hump of Vesuvio marked Naples on the horizon. Then it was a time to get to know his companions better in that travel, and to his surprise Jean stated that there was quite a fight behind his back to get to the flag ship. Well, those who were so lucky to be in his company quickly were sorry for that. After first days of talks and getting to know better, the flag ship became quiet. Nobles traveling on the other vessels could at least get drunk ( as he heard from the distance ), but in the presence of Prince of Naples it wasn`t proper. Especcialy when Jean became rather silent, and no longer wanted to share his time with them. They could think that he got bored with them, but the facts were more grave.

He noticed ( how couldn`t he notice it before? ) that it`s almost impossible to find experienced man among those knights. Almost all of them were not more than 25 years old, in fact, those who were 25 could be captains for the rest. He commandered a crusade of younger sons pushed away from their houses to make some more space for older brothers. It seemed that they had to be naive or crazy if they joined him, when those who were quite smart were now fighting in Burgundy, hoping for new grants, lands, marriages, or at least to be in surrounding of the king.
It also seemed that those young boys from all over Kingdom of Naples after some days created their own hierarhy based not only on family ties and money but also on self-confidence, and youthful tall-talk. And in fact it wasn`t surprise when all the property of many of them was merely their swords and some armor, dressed especially for the party.

So Jean could only count on his knights` courage ( or stupidity ), their youthful reverie and devotion to him and maybe some fighting skills carried out from local skirmishes.

When Neapolitan ships reached Cintra, the port was full of ships, people, horses and equipment. You could hear languages from all over the world, however from foreign nations, French and Germans were most visible. For the first sight it would look like the real crusade started, but if grandparents of those knights raised up from their graves and took a look at the army, they would rather call it the greater band of brigants in the world. Portugal king borrowed huge amounts of gold to hire mercenaries, also other countries was rather guests of Jao than a real crusader army.
But the sight was impressing, indeed. The forces looked like they would sweep up everything on they way. Also Portugese caravelas, shapely and fast ships looked like they can sail farther than any others. It was the greater opportunity to see how a sea power fleet should look like. And an opotunity to take the last look at christian city, maybe.

As a Prince of Naples, Jean was invited with proper respect, however the day of departure was day after tomorrow and King of Portugal was at the time unreachable, honouring the Prince with a noble guide and letter of invitation.

Jean walked down the port, surrounded by his train, gathering gazes of noblemen, servants and merchants, giving back light nods or sometimes, when meeting Frenchmen, changing some longer greetings. After some hours he was standing on the balcony of a chamber prepared for him, watching the swirling port.

The setting sun sealed fate of hudreds of Portugese knights, and tousands of Algerians, fate of hundred of young Neapolitan knights died on desert from heat, thirst and madness, fate of hundreds of Berbers pushed from cliff to sea by them, fate of Alberto Gonza, seventh son of his house, being burned in sand with own hands of future King of Naples, fate of Rene du Bearn being stabbed by his compagnions for hiding goatskin full of water, fate of d`Messina brothers whose four armored skeletons was found on desert years later sitting together under the boulder. Also fate of Guido d`Blois, who luckily came back to Italy only to find scorpio in his pack and fate of Jean d`Anjou losing his way on desert...

to be continued

[Bagricula]

A second bull arrives bearing the heavy red seal of the Holy See, summoning all the bishops of Christendom to an ecumenical council in Monte Cassino. In both Greek and Latin it reads thus:

"Pastores Grecum, Espicati Ecclesiae, et Socii Servi Dei,

"And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me." Today my brothers, your Church calls you yet again to fulfill your vows and sit in a congress blessed by the wisdom of the Holy Ghost. Tarry no longer on worldly matters. Although, the cares of your homeland press against the confines of your mind and batter your spirit, remember the words of Our Lord, "But Jesus told him, 'Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.'" Without the salvation of Christ, all the world is condemned to the death of eternal separation from the Most High.

Failure a second time will result in just and proper penalties according to the forms and will be considered in the revisions of the Collegium Cardinales.

On the following topics, you are commanded to meditate during the journey to Monte Cassino where the Church now gathers to sit in council:

Primus - What steps must be taken now that victory has been won against the infidel Africans to bring the Word of God to the nascent Christian communities of Africa?

Secundus - What is the state of the Church in the many nations of Christendom?

Tertius - How may the Church of the West and the Church of the East be reunited in holy and sisterly communion as the true bride of Christ?

Quartus - What role should the Eastern Roman Empire, now de facto impotent, play in the new Kingdom of God? What should be done with the vacant Imperial mantle?

Quintus - What reforms necessitated by the new age we live in must be undertaken to renew the Church's mission of faith?

Sextus - What reforms must be made in the instruction of priests, in the discipline of the religious, in the education of the faithful?

Septimius - What should be done regarding the martial disputes of temporal powers? What can be done to prevent such disputes from arising?

After these seven questions have been addressed, the conclave will open to new business and general motions from the assembly. The Holy Father will conclude the conclave by confirming those worthy resolutions into the Canon of the Church.

Ad Maiorem Gloriam Dei, may this solemn bull be made the law on Earth as it is in Heaven, written in the Abbey of Monte Cassino a

Sanctissimus, Pope Nicholas V, Vicar of Christ, Papa Universalis, Summus Pontifex, Pontifex Maximus, Servus Servorum Dei, Patriarch of the West, Primate of Italy, Metropolitan of the Roman Province, and Bishop of Rome"

[turion]

Onto Renatus I Angevinus, King of Naples and Sicily

It is with a light heart that I write a reply to the letter I recieved from you days ago. I am indeed deeply comforted and glad to know that after the near collapse of the Sacred Order to have found a confidant and one who still believes in the teachings of our Holy Father in Heaven. So many people, once Knights of the Order who claimed to be firm in resolve and pure in belief revealed themselves to be nothing more than liars who used the name of the Order for their personal gain in this time of hardship. It will take many more years before my Knights and brothers of my Order can walk proudly under the sun with a clear conscience.

I thank thy for your offer of friendship in these dark and forsaken times for my Knights have ventured from the shadow of darkness and death to arise again renewed. I would like nothing more than for me to visit fine Naples and to be able to finally view the magnificent beauty with my very own eyes, beauty of which have been spoken to me often by travellers. Until that day comes, God bless.

Signed with hope,
Jacques de Milly, Grand Master of Order of Saint John of Jerusalem

[Flame of Udûn]

A letter written in the holy language latin finds its way into the hands of Rene d'Anjou in his court in Napoli.

Unto Rene d'Anjou, King of Naples, Sicily, Jerusalem, Duke of Anjou, Bar, Lorraine, Count of Provence, Marshal of France.

I must before anything else tell you how honoured I was to recieve a letter from your most gracious self. While the security and well-being of our common religion is precious to us both and our duty to the pope makes us bound to defend it I must say I didn't expect that the King of Naples would turn his busy eye to Greece and offer his help in this hard period of time that my duchy is going through. You show great empathy for the catholic minority of Greece, and for that I thank you on their behalf. May God bless your most catholic soul, Rene d'Anjou, for you are well worthy of your title as King.

It is however with sadness in my heart that I must tell you that the rumours that has reached your ears are most likely based on the truth. While there is no actual fighting in Kozani, there is a risk that I will have to use my army to seize the property of the rebellious priest currently preachings his foul words in that region. His name is Aeetes Zorbas, and merely 21 years old he has poisoned the minds of people in more than half of Macedonia with his devilish preachings.

As you probably know, the people of Macedonia and especially in the large rural areas in the east are mostly orthodox. I have, perhaps blinded by the views catholics and orthodox actually shares as christians, given them almost total religious freedom and permission to exercise their respective holidays such as the St. Nicholas' Day. Maybe foolishly, have I trusted them and seen that every orthodox man in my realm can go to an orthodox church every Sunday eventhough I, nor anyone in my family have actually shared their religious belief. I believe in religious freedom, Rene, I believe in it for I think it is what is best for Macedonia, and look what has happened.

This priest Zorbas, is active in the Parish of Ptolemaida in the northern Kozani province in the eatern parts of my country. He preaches every day, the evil that is catholics like you and me, Rene. He preaches about how we oppress the orthodox church, about how I who have personally given him the right to even speak freely make laws to limit the orthodox teachings and prevent the orthodox people to exercise their religion.

And the people listen to him, believe it or not the devil has managed to turn people away from the light in half of my country. He has a big advantage of preaching in greek, which most people now and understand in this country. I have myself travelled in said areas not too long ago, and I got a chilly reception to say the least. Catholics are no longer wanted in the area, Zorbas has almost complete power. And that is what I think his main goal is, because his teachings are completely wrong and it surprises me that so many can ignore this fact. He wants to create a powerful greek orthodox state, he wants to somehow restore the Byzantine Empire with Macedonia. Of course this is just a guess of mine, but all facts points towards it. That means he will have to go to weapons sometime, and I think it is best to quell the religion in its cradle, it has already grown too large. Zorbas must go.

This is why I must respectfully decline your invitation to visit you in Napoli this year. I have been to Napoli twice during my time as a crusader of the Venetian army and I have to say that it is a city I very much hope that there will come a year when I am able to visit it before God lets me departure for an eternal life in heaven. However, this year is not that year, and it is with sorrow in my heart I must let my country's interests go in front of my own. I will be very happy to visit you another year though however, and I hope I can have an honour to meet with your majesty when that year will come.

However, I may be so bold as to invite your Majesty to honour Thessaloniki, all of Macedonia and not least myself with a brief or long visit here whatever you prefer in the near future. As we are both Italians I can imagine we do indeed share a lot of things both politically and on a more personal level, the grapes that the people in this part of the world grow is quite comparable to those that grow in Italy, believe it or not.

Hope to see you in a not too distant future, sincerly and signed by his own hand in Thessaloniki with hopes of continued well being and fortune
Paolo Gussoni, Duke of Thessaloniki and all of Macedonia, given his title by the supreme Doge of Venezia and its dependencies

[Longinus]

A letter is handed to king Rene.

Your Majesty, beloved Father,

We, in Agrilly, are yet to see you and the troops you are leading to aid my sister and her child, my nice and at the same time the young queen of Lotharingia. It could mean a lot if Your Majesty could hasten this journey as I have heard you arrived safely in Piedmonte.

Your arrival, even late, might as well mean a lot to the House of Anjou as the Diet of Agrilly is deciding now. Surely, the Royal House of Anjou is respected and feared by many Burgundian nobles and Your Majesty, as the duke of Bar and member of ancient French family, should hold some power over them. My sister, and in future the Queen Marie, will undoubtedly turn a valuable ally to our House, however I beg Your Majesty to come quickly. I am hesitant to speak in your name before the Burgundian nobility and clergy as they might see in me first and foremost the brother of Anna, not the son of King Rene d’Anjou.

I pray you fare well and await any news from you with great anticipation.

Given in Agrilly,

Henryk of the Greif, Prince of Naples and Pommernia, Count of Spychow and Louhans.

[Lord E]

A letter arrives from Lotharingia, sealed with the seal of France

Rene d'Anjou, King of Naples, Sicily, Jerusalem, Duke of Anjou, Bar, Lorraine, Count of Provence, Marshal of France.

Dear Rene,

This is dangerous times we live in. I am still in Lotharingia where it seems the Lords have a t least been able to decide, but I don’t know what Anna the Betrayer will do about things. Anna is a dangerous woman Rene; you do good remembering that if you ever meet her, my men have found out that she has contacted the English King with plans for an alliance between her and Edmund the bastard for the destruction of France. As a Marshal of France, and as my cousin, I know that you would not hesitate for a moment to come to the aid of France for the best of Gaul and the best of the Valois.
Although I don’t have any signs yet of such a horrible and treacherous event happening yet, and I pray it will never happen, I fear that the time ahead might be even more dangerous. Anna is a danger and she will need to be handled as such, even if that means using hard force.

On an other note I fear that also Pommeriania might be a problem. I know of your close connection with Henryk, and I hope you will be able to know better than me if the Griefs can be trusted. They have signed a wedding agreement with Edmund the Bastard, where their envoys has stated and signed that Edmund the Bastard is the king of France. As I told Casmir in a letter I will not stand such a humiliation, but I pray in the longest is it all a slip of the pen for some upstart amateur envoy! Only the Lord can know. All we can do is pray these dark times will end and change into brighter years, but there will be no real bright year until Edmund the Bastard has been erased from the earth, and his occupation of Gaul has ended with a French victory.
I pray we will both be there to witness and celebrate the day when Gaul has been freed and the Bastard and his fellow plotters are all gone to hell where they belong.


Written in Argilly, Lotharingia in own hand

Louis