Arc I
Chapter 7
Part 4: Dictator for Life/ The Trial for High Treason of Chiaffredo Visconti/ Scramble for Anatolia/ The Vendetta d’Appiano – Et tu?/ New Allies/ The Third Crusade for Jerusalem and the Holy War for Alexandria
Meanwhile in a tavern
During the events that took place in the Piazza del Duomo, not all were inclined to take part in the festival held in honor of Chiaffredo and his (third) installation as Chancellor of the Republic. Some preferred to drown their vices in the many seedy establishments of Pisa by playing cards, drinking their troubles and other activities reserved for those who were not regular attendants of the Church.
Two guards were off duty, drinking at the bar their favored wine and relaxing after a strenuous day of duty. They hoped with Serene Doge Conone, the patrols would decrease and they would return to their usual schedule, before the alleged “accidents”. As they were minding their own business, a patron seemed on the verge of blacking out from excessive drinking, ale after ale being consumed as if he was a thirsty man from the desert.
“That’s enough of your drinking… I hardly can believe you can pay for what you have ordered…. you will be cleaning the mugs once the shop is closed, that is certain…” said the tavernkeeper.
He attempted to take the mug from the drunken patron’s hand, however the patron refused and grabbed the tavernkeeper from his shirt
“Hands off the liquor there, friend! Do you know who I am? I am Alberto di Pisa!!”
“And I am the King of the Saxons… your breath stinks of beer! That’s it, no more!”
The drunkard took out a pouch of money and spilled it right at the bar. The tavernkeeper’s eyes flashed immediately and grabbed as many coins as he could. If that fool would spend all his money on the drink…so be it…
“I am Alberto di Pisa!! Assistant to Doge Chiaffredo and accomplice of…. the great catch!! We will fish out a good urchin and become masters of the fishmonger house!!”
One guard motioned the other towards Alberto di Pisa…what was he babbling about?
“Sir…you have us puzzled…what does Doge Chiaffredo have to do with fishmongers and urchins? Are you a fisherman?”
Alberto roared a laugh
“Hahaha...silly guardsmen…I am only the cartographer, others will be the fishermen… poor Conone…what a poor little urchin you will become… but the fishmonger house must be run by someone else…”
Serene Doge Conone?
“You are thickskulls aren’t you? Someone big will pass a hook on Conone’s lips and he will be swimming with the fishes!!”
Alberto laughed in a drunken stupor. He then vomited at the floor and tried to recall what he just said… he gave a look of horror at the guards, who managed to interpret the innuendo and went running off at the plaza
The guards ran at the streets of Pisa like no tomorrow. Once they reached the Piazza, they saw the body of Conone draped in a red cloak and the people were chanting Chiaffredo! Chiaffredo!
Upon the platform, Chiaffredo wore the insignia of the Republic of Pisa and was delivering a speech
“Our times are difficult and only I can lead you and bring the murders of poor Conone to justice! I thank you for the honor of electing me Dictator for Life in Pisa!!”
“Of course you can!! Because you are the one who killed him!!” said the guards and pointed at Serene Doge Chiaffredo
The people looked puzzled and Chiaffredo took a feint expression of shock
“Me?! Oh surely you must be hallucinating… I was right here when the murder took place! I barely saved myself from the incoming fire!!”
“Maybe because you knew about it…Alberto di Pisa confessed everything in the tavern after becoming drunk on your money!!”
That idiot blabbermouth!!
“Who is that man? I do not know him…”
“ The Great Catch is over Visconti!! Step down and we assure you will only be hanged than beheaded for the crime you have just committed!!”
“Fleeting words…a drunk, what a useful witness!! Maybe he saw me riding a unicorn too?!” he said and chuckled mockingly. The people laughed in ridicule as well
Suddenly from another street, four more guardsmen appeared, having detained in their arms a hooded man.
“We have here a Merry Man of Pisa who was caught running from another direction, bow and arrows on him. And he mentioned your name…coincidence?”
The evidence adding up was becoming to be more than circumstantial. The people eyed Chiaffredo and there was stirring. Could it be? Could Chiaffredo actually commit murder to seize the Republic?
With a nod a group of men came out from the public, putting their robes aside and revealed themselves, armed to the teeth and bearing the Visconti rooster coat of arms. They surrounded Chiaffredo and stood their position
“I am Dictator for Life, elected to deal with this crisis on our hands. You accuse me of High Treason and murder of the former Serene Doge? Fine, I will grant you your wish and stand trial for my accusation. But until the court is assembled, I have full right as Serene Doge to establish the Council of the Republic till the day arrives!”
Despite the bizarre situation, Chiaffredo was right. The Republic could not have a vacuum in position until there was a replacement. The guards lowered their resolve but held both Alberto and the Merry Man in custody.
The time limit for Chiaffredo to retain his position till the trial enabled him to win a significant amount of time to place in key positions people who were loyal to him and could tip the result in his favor. Of course, he took in mind the skills of those who would serve in the Council but on general terms they were men who were neutral or positive to Chiaffredo’s interests.
As such, Chancellor of the Republic was named Artemio della Gherardesca, the capofamiglia and third most respected man in Pisa, Marshal was Napoleone, Lord Mayor of Piombino, Steward of the Republic was Cassio Visconti, as well as High Judge of the Republic, Spymaster was Ermenegildo of Volterra and finally Court Chaplain the Esteemed Cardinal Ubaldo Panico, also State Inquisitor of the Republic.
Having bought the loyalty of the della Gherardesca with a position in the Council, Chiaffredo went about to ensure Alliata cooperation by naming State Inquisitor their capofamiglia, Lord Mayor Baldovino Alliata of Malta. He also proceeded with the wedding of his niece Paola, who was rumored maliciously to be an inbred offspring of Baldassarre and Francesca, with Igino Alliata, the docile son of Davide Alliata, who was, before Conone, Serene Doge. Both were bound by a betrothal by the word of Serene Doge Davide Alliata, so in honor of his memory, the wedding went as planned.
The Trial of Chiaffredo
With such connections it was no wonder that the Trial of Chiaffredo, despite being a major event in the Republic, was examined hastily and the damning evidence overruled. High Judge Cassio, in order to make the final decision, called for a trial by ordeal and summoned Chiaffredo to retrieve the Ring of the Republic from a hot burning cauldron. Should he recover it with no wounds, he would be deemed innocent, if not he would be sentenced to death.
(Ordeal of boiling water, illustration from manuscript. Germany cc. 1350-1375)
The cauldron was placed and the water was at boiling point. The Republic and its damn laws Chiaffredo thought. How could they expect for him to come out unscratched from this trial? He wondered if his cousin Cassio eyed his position and wanted to exterminate him through crime and punishment.
Inside him though he heard a calling. He felt as time had passed and an image called for him
You have done many errors Chiaffredo but you can be saved…trust me…
The image extended his hand, which Chiaffredo took. Before he knew, he heard the gasp of the people and he had retrieved the ring from the bottom of the cauldron with no trace of a boil or blister. Chiaffredo knew then that the voice was no other than Jesus himself.
He cried on the spot, kissing the ring and kneeling by the floor of the courthouse. In one commotion, the crowd applauded and shouted Innocente! Innocente!
The d’Appiano stormed outside the room, saying it was all staged and vowed for a vendetta against Chiaffredo and they would not rest until the price was paid in blood. It was fortunate that head of the d’Appiano was Cosma, Doge of Tripolitana, a man scared of his own shadow, or else open conflict would have ensured in Pisa.
While Pisa was in the brink of civil war, due to the innocence of Chiaffredo and his return as Serene Doge of Pisa, the guest of the Visconti, Prince Kyros Doukas, died in his sleep only at his twenty fifth year of his life. Some say his exclusion from the succession of the Basileia cost his life, others that he was poisoned by Greek agents. He did not even have the time to raise his two daughters into adulthood.
However the same fate befell his brother, Basileus Konstantios IV Doukas while he was campaigning on the mountains of Anatolia, to ward off the Invasion the Seljuks had commenced. Chiaffredo received the news while the Pisan fleet had crossed into the Black Sea, ready to reinforce the Byzantine troops. Konstantios IV was succeeded by his child, Anthimos II , who was firmly placed under the regency of the Dynast Photios Angelos of Nicea, the general who fought against the Visconti Catholicocracy.
Scramble for Anatolia
When hearing news of the demise of Basileus Konstantios IV and on the throne was a child-Emperor, who faced recently a crushing defeat at the outskirts of Koloneia, Caliph Abderahman of Egypt, the ill- Ruler, saw an opportunity for the Shia to expand their demesne, cutting the Empire in half and isolating Antioch. He called for a Jihad for all Shia faithful and with full force, he passed through Antioch uncontested and into the Anatolian highlands.
Truly, it would seem the Lord had decided that Anatolia would be lost from the Christians and it would fall unto Mohamedan hands. Yet at the moment when everything but a glimmer of hope had vanished, the religion passions of Shia and Sunni arose and the Egyptians entered into open conflict with the Turks, fighting over who would be the master of Anatolia. The Byzantines rejoiced as news of the battle in Kaisareia reached them: it did not matter who won but rather that the Muslims were fighting themselves!
It was definitely a sign from Jesus himself, Chiaffredo thought, and as commanded by the voice of the Lord, he donated a vast amount of his coffers to the poor and needy of Pisa. He also proceeded in reforms focused on decentralizing the Republic and dubbed his son Chiaffredo II as the Duke of Capua, a lord on his own right. Likewise, he created the title of Doge of Tunis and bestowed it upon the Lord Mayor of Tunis, ensuring his loyalty and safekeeping of this valued province of the Republic.
However blood could not be turned unto water and despite his newfound charity, Spymaster Ermenegildo uncovered a nefarious plot that only a craven d’Appiano could hatch: Chiaffredo would die by poison at an upcoming banquet he would host, in honor of his betrothal with the daughter of the German Kaiser Dietmar the Cruel Hrabisic. Indeed, Aurelia his wife, the one he had divorced de facto, died a natural death aged sixty nine and what better way to secure Pisa than by allying the Holy Roman Empire, who where brothers in Catholic Faith.
Of course this turn of diplomacy from the Holy Father of Rome to the advocates of Free Investiture, championed by the German Kaiser, did take by surprise the politicians of Pisa. Was it a political maneuver to break the smothering embrace of the Papacy? Chiaffredo did not comment, saying that the voice of Jesus advised him to do so, implying that the Papacy itself had turned from God and the Germans had found the true meaning of the Faith.
The Vendetta d’Appiano – Et tu?
To his surprise, Chiaffredo was informed that amongst the conspirators was his son Ausonio, the amateurish plotter. He called for his son immediately at the Palace of the Republic, waiting to judge by his own person whether his son was directly implicated in this scheme or it was a false report… perhaps give him a second chance, per the voice’s insistence.
Ausonio arrived and greeted his father. However Chiaffredo kept his distance and only said : Et tu Ausonio?
His eyes widened, relating the sentence to the famous treachery of Brutus to Julius Caesar. He broke into tears and asked his father for forgiveness, saying he was mislead by the bad companies of the Caetani and the d’Appiano, the latter being distant relatives once upon a time. Chiaffredo was quick to forgive him but asked him never to repeat the same mistake again. The same though was not done for the other conspirators, Patrician Leone Caetani and Doge Cosma d’Appiano. Both of them refused to withdraw their support and Chiaffredo commanded their return to Pisa in chains.
The guards managed with relative ease to capture Leone but Cosma, out of pride for the Familia, refused to surrender and declared an uprising against the Republic and specifically against the rule of Chiaffredo Visconti. The war lasted only two years, with Cosma being granted amnesty for his revolt, as a series of events would make Chiaffredo close this front with the unruly d’Appiano and focus his attention elsewhere entirely
New Allies
During the turbulent era with the revolt of Cosma d’Appiano against the Serene Doge, Ludmila Hrabisic came of age and to Chiaffredo’s delight, she was exceptionally tutored in the arts of accounting and keeping ledgers. However, her talent was wasted by being just and slothful, not to mention her insatiable hunger and quickness to anger. Despite these flaws, for she tried to hide them in public view, Chiaffredo was content and proceeded for the first time in the history of the Republic to form an alliance with the Holy Roman Empire, only some years away from being, by law, an alien territory from it. Kaiser Dietmar gladly accepted, perhaps foreseeing into Pisan arms to reinforce him when he made the move to bring back the Duchies of Tuscany and Provence back to the Imperial fold.
In his lifetime, Chiaffredo and Ludmila had two children: Argentina, the clubfooted and Alessio, the ill one. Chiaffredo had barely the time to witness their growth as he would become engaged with a war which was the persistence of the Visconti for generations…
The Third Crusade for Jerusalem and the Holy War for Alexandria
A year before he closed his eyes, Pope Nicolaus III declared a Crusade against Caliph Abderahman of Egypt for Jerusalem, the third of its kind. As before, he promised absolution of all sins to its participants and the chance to recover the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. Customarily, few Kings and Dukes heeded the call and it was mainly the Irish who pledged from the start their support.
Chiaffredo was torn inside him. The Glory of God beckoned him but could he pledge himself in a Crusade sanctioned by the Pope of Rome, the very man the voice had warned him that he had long strayed from His path? Then an idea dawned to him, as if Divine Providence itself.
With the help of his newfound ally and father in law, he would bring the war to the infidels. He would declare a Holy War of his own for Alexandria and the wisdom it held so long from the Visconti. Where his predecessors had failed, he would succeed, for he had Jesus on his side now.
Unlike the past, the Republic of Pisa stretched from Tunis to Cyrenaica, thanks to the efforts of the Doge Ferdinando Alliata, the successor of Lord Mayor Baldovino of Malta. Chiaffredo promptly named him High Admiral and in charge of the supply of the Pisan and Holy Roman troops, who would land at his domain and then proceed to the deserts of Egypt.
To his cause rallied the Knights Templar, intrigued by the rumor that Chiaffredo was hearing the Voice of Jesus himself and not through the conduit of the Church. Indeed, their support was crucial in the battle of Fuka, as they stood their ground against the onslaught of the Mamelukes. In this very same battle, Caliph Abderahman was rendered incapable to manage the realm (perhaps to a relief of all the Shia faithful who saw his rule as a contempt to the morals of the religion) and soon passed away at the age of thirty eight.
Yet even after all these victories, as each castle one after one fell to the Pisans and the Holy Roman troops, and the Egyptians ran scattered to each direction not knowing which front to fight first, Serene Doge Chiaffredo was all but serene. Despite hearing the call of Jesus, he felt his soul empty and devoid of joy. He had it all: three grown sons and a young daughter and son, wealth beyond imagination and he was the most powerful and respected man in the Republic. Was it enough? Even the charities which once filled him, now were the empty sound of coins falling upon a charity basket….
War Camp in El-Alamein
The cheer of the Pisans and the Knights Templar was deafening, as the white flag of surrender flew on the parapets of the Shia Castle of El- Alamein. The defenders opened the gates and exited, without their weapons and their arms upon their head.
The Headmaster of the Knights Templar nodded with approval. The might of the Caliphate was beginning to crumble under the sheer pressure of the Republic, the Holy Roman Empire and the Crusaders who were making their way towards the Holy Land. He thought perhaps one day, he would see in his lifetime Jerusalem restored to the Catholic faith.
He rode with his horse to the tent of the Serene Doge. He was nowhere to be found. Upon his desk, an open letter struggled not to fly away from the wind of the sand. Curiously he began to read
“ To whom it may concern,
As our Lord Jesus Christ went to the desert to test himself against temptation, so too I have set on His path on this endless sand to search for my soul. Am I in Heaven or in Hell? I have fought for the Familia, I have fought for gold, for seats and offices. I have lied and killed. For what? I have been tested so many times for the Lord and I have been found worthy. Yet I cannot know what I feel… the Voice does not speak….
Do not search me, for I will not return.
Chiaffredo Visconti”
The letter was sent with haste to Cassio Visconti, the sottocapo of the Familia Visconti and Doge-Elect of the Republic, in Amalfi. He was concerned with the news but knew of Chiaffredo and his troubled soul. With the document, as High Judge of Pisa, he proclaimed Chiaffredo legally dead and assumed his office of Serene Doge.
With the first ship, he sailed to Pisa , this time as the new head both of the Familia and the Republic, becoming the captain beckoned to ride the waves as the eleventh Serene Doge of Pisa