Arc I
Chapter 8
Part 3: A Holy Alliance/ Pisa expands into Tuscany and Modena/ The Grand Principality of Pisa/ The Pisa- Holy Roman Antipapal War/ Genoa submits to the Duke of Susa/ Cassio Visconti claims Genoa and Susa
“It gets better and better…an alliance with the Papal State! No longer would we fear the prying eyes and ears of the Pope’s legates and the whims of each Pope. At long last, my half-brother has proven useful for the Familia!”
Honorius II , son of Giordano Visconti the Gold Hound and Evanthia Tarchaneiotes, would be the first Visconti to be called Pope. Formerly the Prince- Archbishop of Jerusalem and Bishop of Alexandria, as a man of the cloth he was not astounding: a dutiful cleric, who interpreted the rules at will (and married in secret, before his ascension as Bishop and then Archbishop), he was known for his servitude towards the Familia, ensuring the Papacy employed many lesser branches of Visconti members.
It did not come as a surprise when the alliance of Pisa and the Papal State was sealed. Keeping his oath to the former Pope, Cassio refused to deal with the Holy Roman Empire: in fact the latter stages of his life would be filled with open conflict with the Holy Roman Empire and Emperor Dietmar Hrabisic- von Luxemburg.
But first, with the help of his half- brother in Rome, came the conclusion of the war for Tuscany and Modena. The Pisan and Papal troops gave the final blow to the weakened Tuscan and French armies, signaling the defeat of (former) Duchess Garcenda Premyslid.
In an act of benevolence, Cassio Visconti allowed her to be the Countess of Parma, placing her under the vassalage of her former vassal, the count of Modena (and newly bestowed Duke of Modena).The significance of Firenze and Siena as Grand Cities became more prominent under the Republic of Tuscany, with their Lord Mayors overseeing the feudal castles and the demesne churches. Lucca remained under the personal dominion of Cassio Visconti.
Of course, the expansion of Pisa to Tuscany and Modena, although it brought ample breathing space, alarmed the nearby kingdoms and polities, and mainly King Orderic de Hauteville ‘the Noble’, whom eagerly instituted a Defensive Pact against Pisa.
Some minor lords such as the Duke of Salerno, Venice, Genoa and Aragon joined but amongst them was also a peculiar inclusion: the dwarf Zirid Sultan of Africa, only in name, with his last pirate hideout in Syracuse. Cassio deemed it a good opportunity to ride the Zirids out of business once and for all, with the prospect of the Serene Republic of Africa to be formed, as all its lands were effectively Pisan.
The war was trivial and not even those who pledge upon the Pact went into the effort to defend their coalition member. In only a few months, the Zirid Sultanate was a past and the dwarf Sultan, reduced to a courtier in the remnants of Muslim Spain.
All of de jure Africa was now rightfully in the hands of Cassio Visconti, the Serene Doge of Pisa and Jerusalem. After a spectacular triumph, he announced himself as the Serene Doge of Africa and not only: it would mark the creation of the Principality of Pisa and he himself would be the First Grand Prince. A Plutocratic Principality, Cassio Visconti, the Grand Prince, would be the first amongst equals, the administrator of the various Republics under the aegis of Pisa. The populace was living in interesting times, in glory similar they had not seen for centuries.
However the personal glory of Cassio would bring him misfortune some years later: corresponding with his half-brother the Pope Honorius II, he expressed his grief over the tragic loss of his son Giordano, the proclaimed True Christian Knight: he would die by an illness, his depression, unable to cope after the traumatic events which transpired in Jerusalem.
Depression also would claim Duke Ugo Visconti of Sardinia, the heir apparent of Cassio and the Principality, he in turn would be succeeded as heir to the Principality by Ausonio Visconti, the Amateurish Plotter son of Chiaffredo, the Tenth Serene Doge of Pisa. The death of their firstborn son devastated his wife Eudokia Doukas, who soon died bedridden and infirm. The Grim Reaper seemed to prey on the Familia Visconti.
As time progressed, Cassio would become an increasingly harsh man to the point of open cruelty . His mourning over his wife took only three days, having coped with her gradual decline after the news of their son’s death.
He would remarry Theognosia Doukas, the second daughter of Prince Kyros, the Doukas who adopted Catholicism in a bid to win the Imperial Throne of Constantinople. As it was usual, he gathered a Royal Aid Duty, to compensate for the wedding fit for a Grand Prince. It should be noted that her hand was asked by the Kaiser Dietmar, but was promptly rejected.
This though was only a detail in the grander scheme of things: for news came from the Holy Roman Empire that the German merchants had banded into a trade league by the name of Hansa, to compete with the Visby traders and the Italian mercantilism promoted by Pisa. Added to the fact that the Holy Roman Emperor did not acknowledge Rome as the rightful Pope, it was certain that he would gather great wealth in his demesne.
The Pisans had to act. There was only one way to cut short this threat from the north: the Anti-Pope had to be deposed.
The might of the Holy Roman Princes would be pitted against the Italian plutocrats and the theocracy of the Papal State. Armies mustered at large, levies and paid swords, to determine with conflict who the rightful Pope was: the one in Rome or the one of Ravenna.
At the mountains of Reggio nell’ Emmilia first blood was drawn as the forces of the Kaiser were mislead into an ambush.
Paramount generals from the Pisan side would score a crushing victory. The same example was followed in the plains of Lucca, with the troops of the Kaiser been broken into wild retreat in the safety of the Alps.
Soon enough, the Pisan troops were in siege of Ravenna, the false Papal seat. After storming the See, with the hope of capturing the Anti-Pope, Ravenna fell quickly to Pisan hands. Yet the Anti-Pope was nowhere to be seen, having escaped capture. The Grand City of Ancona would later fall, marking the supreme victory of the Papal forces.
Kaiser Dietmar was forced to accept Papal sovereignty. Whatismore, Cassio proposed his excommunication from the Holy Church, having led the Holy Roman Empire for so long outside the nominal communion of Rome. Pope Honorius II agreed with no reservation.
Meanwhile, the Republic of Genoa faced dire times. The glutton Duke Ulrich Aleramicci of Susa through a fabricated title laid his hands on Genoa itself and after a series of wars, the Grand City of Genoa fell.
The Patrician Families fled in exile in Pavia and the trade network was disrupted, with the ports falling in disarray. Ulrich Aleramicci proclaimed himself Duke of Genoa and Susa, ending immediately the Maritime Republic. Pisa became effectively the dominant sea trading power in the Western Mediterranean.
Cassio, the First Grand Prince of Pisa, would continue to manage the affairs of the Principality as well as the Familia. His elevation as Grand Prince, Protector of Jerusalem and restorer of the union of the Catholic Church would bring him great prestige.
The King of Bohemia, Castolov II Premyslid, asked in marriage the hand of his daughter Fosca Visconti. Seeing the potential political leverage he would gain against further intrusion upon the Holy Roman Empire, Cassio accepted. An alliance was promptly formed between Pisa and Bohemia, uniting the two realms against their common enemies.
Of course, Cassio took advantage of the correspondence with his half-brother the Pope to ask of him a favor: a rightful claim to the Duchies of Genoa and Susa, held by the impious Ulrich. This brought into a difficult position Pope Honorius II, who already had gained the reputation of promoting the Visconti agenda entirely. He agreed in the end, not before scolding his half-brother for his request.
Around those years, Ausonio Visconti, the heir apparent, would die to natural causes at the age of sixty two. The new heir would be Sinibaldo Visconti, a dutiful cleric, coming from the Grand Inquisitor line of the Visconti
24 March 1195
These books…how they remind me of the reports of Giordano from the Kingdom of the Night and India…if only that boy had become more tough, what a fine man he would have been…
I wonder if those monks would be interested in deciphering that ancient tome of my family, il Libro…I cannot make any sense of it whatsoever. Maybe Sinibaldo would have better luck sometime, I sure did pay a lot for him to be the second Grand Prince of the Principality.
“My Grand Prince. Our armies are assembled to strike the Holy Roman Empire once more. Pope Honorius II, your half-brother, is already a days distance from our troops. Castolov too is ready to strike the heart of the Empire…”
Cassio nodded passively.
“How did the Emperor receive the news?”
“I am certain he would be raving like a madman…The Holy Roman Princes elected a man who was zealous as to appease Honorius II and were taken aback from our claim on Genoa and Susa. Apparently Ulrich’s transgression did not mean anything to them..”
“What of my son Ausonio? How is he doing?”
“My Grand Prince.. your wife Princess Theognosia reports he is in good health, although time to time he is…overacting on his desire to be fed. She reports he has even bit her most viciously!”
Cassio scoffed
“He is a toddler what would you expect? It shows he wants to stay alive..well then, off with you. I have more to read on this fascinating book here..”
What lies! This book only goes about to prove the world is round and not flat? Surely there must be more to it…
Cassio then drifted to sleep, with the book on his lap….
A strange dream… why, there is Giordano, in a Knight Templar uniform and upon a horse? …. How odd….
