- ARCHIVE - Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire

[unmerged(1463)]

A letter from Michael von Sternburg arrives


I am appaled by the actions made by Poland.
Ever since i was a little child i swore an oath to speak the truth, and to defend the Christianity.
This i will do untill my death, which could have been recently..
I will go to the Imperial Diet and face the "Accusations" made by me by the madman of Cracow.

 

[unmerged(1463)]

The Teutonic Ambassador leaves a letter before going to his quarters
We ask for an independent investigation of the royal palace in Crakow. To try to find evidence that the polish king did send the assasin.
Therefore we need more time.
If the Emperor was under assasination attempt would you say "hurry up" and after a few months forget about it ? i think not.

 

[unmerged(1463)]

The gigantic doors to the Imperial Diet opens and in comes Michael von Sternburg himself wearing his white robe with black crosses.
Sternburg walks through the hall, and kneels before the Members of the Imperial Diet, and casts an eye at the polish ambassador.
After his kneeling he stands up and speaks with a loud and firm voice.

The solid ground that makes the Empire strong is unity and friendship. Without Unity or Friendship the Empire will succumb into the abyss. His Imperial Majesty has lead the Empire for quite some while now, and have done so masterly. The Members of the empire thrives of peace and a common defensive force willing to support any of its members when they are threatened.

And at the top of the Imperial Hierarchy are the rulers and the Imperial Advisors without these elements the empire would be nothing. Therefore we must stand united and devoted to stop any dividing of the empire, that we see are happening in the north, near our good member the nation of Burgundy.

Until now my ambassador has spoken instead for me, my good ambassadors parents where killed after the battle of Tannenberg, by the polish. That is why he might have spoken to harsh towards the nation of Poland.

The Holy Order of the Germans of Jerusalem do not see the polish king as the devil on earth, only the apprentice, if all we believe is the truth.

But what Is worse are the nation of Sweden they are, as the wise emperor have said, a rebel state. And all of us have read the bible, and we know it by heart. Remember Jesaya

“If thou rebel then thy shall be devoured by the sword.”

We have also heard about the polish offer of peace. Oh how valiant of him to offer such a great peace when his only port lies under our control and the Swedes are expanding. His plan could be to let Sweden seize my land and then he would give the land to Poland.

It is my strongest view that the poles had something to do with the assassination, if they did not order the assassination, they know who did. So I ask them to tell us who sent the assassin.

The use of Assassins is the lowest form of warfare. Only the apprentices of Satan would do such things. Those who sends assassin are after the life of the Pope and me.

You all know that the end of the Teutonic Order means the end of Catholism in Eastern Europe.

If you choose to believe a nation that I has frequently tried to crush the Teutonic Order then to believe the holy order, which we are, that has fought battles to spread catholism further into the stronghold of Orthodoxy.

Then I have lost all faith in the Holy Roman Empire.


The Grandmaster takes his position next to the Prussian ambassador.

 

[Hamilcar]

A diminitive man quietly enters the diet chamber and whispers something into the Grandmaster's ear. It is Freiherr von Schellendorff, the Prussia emissary to the Diet. His face turns dark and he gets up to follow the man. A few minutes later, they both return.

He stands up and bows before the Emperor and the assembled delegates.

Most August Emperor, honoured delegates of the Empire,

I am here on behalf of the Duke of Prussia. I ask for permission to speak before the Diet, for I bear news that are of great importance to the deliberations of this body."

The Emperor gives a slight nod. The Polish and Swedish delegation suddenly wake up and stare intently at the man.

"As you know, the noble Order of the Teutonic Knights is at war with Poland and their vile allies in Sweden and Bavaria. The Duchy of Prussia, as a faithful vassal of the Order, that for so long has guarded your lands against the indfidel hordes, has not been asked to join the Order in their war.

I am here to tell you the TRUTH about this war and the WICKED nature of the King of Poland."

The Swedish and Polish delegate are turning purple.

"Two months ago, a messenger from the King arrived in Königsberg. The King of Poland would promise us lands, titles and riches, should we secretly form an alliance with him and his allies. He asked us for the right of passage through our duchy, so that he may capture the undefended lands of the Order.

My Duke has taken this to be a grave insult to our HONOUR. Truly, delegates of the Empire, the King of Poland asked us to betray our ally and lord in the most shameful manner, and tried to bribe us with promises of wealth.

When this message arrived, my Duke did not intend to even answer. But, after holding deliberations with the Order's ambassador in Königsberg, he decided to pretend to agree to his alliance. After all, if the King of Poland is so FOOLISH as to believe that we would desert our HONOUR, he deserves no less.

The King introduced us to his WICKED scheming and laid bare his plans for the war. He told us about the attack from the REBELS in Sweden beforehand. We relayed this to the Order, who, unfortunately, did not have the troops required to repell the Swedes.

Further, as you all know, The Order accuses the King of Poland to have sent an ASSASSIN against the Grandmaster. Some of you have doubted this, and the King certainly denies it.

But I ask you, honoured delegates: Is a man of such LOW moral character as the King of Poland capable of hirning an assassin? A man who resorts to treachery and bribery when he knows that defeat of the battlefield is inevitable?

I say YES! The Duke of Prussia accuses the King of Poland of attempted murder of a most venerable man of the Empire itself.

For his attempt to corrupt us and for the attempt on our liege Lord's life, my Duke has instructed me to publicly declare the following:

For his assault of the Duke's HONOUR and his attempted ASSASSINATION of the Grandmaster of the Teutons, the Duchy of Prussia declares WAR on the Kingdom of Poland and its allies."

He bows before the assembly and returns to his seat, revelling in the look on the Polish and Swedish delegates' faces as their own scheming is exposed in such a public fashion.

 

[LUDWIG]

Albert stared in awe at the Prussian delegate.
"So we have proof of misconduct against the Poles. Will the Poles answer these charges?"

Turning to face the Teutonic Grandmaster.
"It is good to see you are strong and healthy Grandmaster.
I understand that your honour may seem to be questioned but I gave certain assurances to the Polish King in order to hear his version of events. You are also an Imperial Advisor and a man to be believed, do you therefore vouch for the word of your vassal?"

Turning to the other Advisors.
"Do you believe the words of the Prussian envoy? For if you do there can be no other verdict then to condemn Poland for her misconduct and declare war upon her. If you do not believe the Prussian then we must dismiss the Teuton charges. How do you vote gentlemen?"

 

[unmerged(1057)]

Jan Van Wassenaer rises and speaks to the Emperor:

"Your Highness, word has come that the Constable of Holland is in the hallway outside, I beg you Sire to let him in.

Let us hear what he has to say about the events in Noord Holland.

Let us question him and then You can make Your judgement,

who the aggressors are and what the implications will be if we
let this unrest and turmoil continue in the County of Holland."

 

[unmerged(1463)]

Michael von Sternburg stands up
Everything the delegate of Prussia have said i have heard about by the duke of Prussia in person.
So i fully support his words.
I hope that the Imperial Diet does the right choice.
As a Prince of the HRE, as a Bishop and as a leader of a nation i am certain that you will see the evil of what the polish king have done

 

[unmerged(6501)]

Burgrave Erhard of Brandenburg rises, looking gravely toward the Emperor:

August highness, hearing the words of the Prussian envoy, and barring any worthy defense by the envoy of the King of Poland, Brandenburg must advise you to support the cause of the Teutonic Order. If the King of Poland sought to subvert the ties of loyalty binding the Duke of Prussia to his rightful liege lord, and thereby sought to despoil and take the domains of the Teutonic Knights, then clearly it is the King of Poland who has acted dishonorably. And though it is repugnant to declare war upon an ally, I can see no other choice facing the Grandmaster in these circumstances.

 

[Txini]

Ludwig of Bavaria, who was back from Florence entered the council amazed:

Grandmaster Michael of the Teutonic Order has been assasinated, let's pray for his soul. It is know the assasin was our heathen uncle, with same name as me, Ludwig of Bavaria, we only want to let know his Highness the Emperor, Friesland will enter the war against the one, who kills God's Men, and also claim as my aunt the Stadtholder of Friesland is nephew of the Bavarian traitor, to be claimed as Holder of Bavarian Lands and titles

 

[unmerged(1463)]

The death of Michael Sternburg appeared under Imperial Protection, after he returned from his entrance to the meeting, he was assasinated.
his Body lies in the Chapel in the city, making the body ready to go to Marienburg for burial.
In the meen time the ambassador enters the Imperial Diet.
He is in tears
Our grandmaster, whom survived one assasination attempt have been murdered.. We must crush our enemies before they kill the entire family..
Please
The ambassador bursts into tears and sits down, being calmed down by the prussian ambassador.

 

[LUDWIG]

Albert turns to face the Gelre delegation.
"My friends I am most anxious to hear the evidence of the Constable of Holland however the present business takes precidence. To ensure the good gentlemen is not left standing around like a common fool he may enter the ante chamber and enjoy refreshments. When the matter before us is resolved he will be granted admittance and his evidence will be heard. I wish to avoid getting seperate issues entangled and causing confusion within the Diet. REst assured the matter will be considered as carefully and as fairly as the present issue."

 

[unmerged(1057)]

Jan Van Wassenaer rises and adresses the Emperor:

Your Highness, I thank You for your very wise decision, we will get the good Constable something to eat and drink...

 

[LUDWIG]

Albert's eyes glow with a fierce cruelty when he hears of the demise of the Grandmaster.
Turning to face the shattered Teutonic delegation his voice a soft whisper of pure menace.
"Every tear shed will be answered with the blood of those who did this. Assassins are beneath men of honour and those involved will suffer greatly before they die."

Turning to face the Bavarian delegation the cruel light flaring brightly in his eyes.
"Guards arrest the entire Bavarian delegation and bring them to the dungeons. Summon my personal interrogator to ensure we find out every scrap of information possible from these wretches. Austria is now at war with your wretched land."

Turning his back on the Bavarians as the guards move in to arrest the delegation.

 

[unmerged(1463)]

The Teutonic Ambassador tries to control himself.
Two assasins where sent.
The best friend of Bavaria is Poland.
Poland was the first that sent an assasin.
bavaria was the second
Both must be punished, and those who supports them.

 

[Txini]

Ludwig of Bavaria, Friesland Member of the Diets, seems amazed, he has made some claims and noone seemed to have been listening to him.

 

[unmerged(5941)]

Leopoldo rises, his face red with anger. He faces the delegates and speaks in a very calm, but angry voice.

"This is war. No quarter shall be shown to the Bavarians or the Poles. If Sweden were wise, she would make peace with the Order and leave that doomed alliance, or she will go with it to hell."

 

[Darth Tracid]

The luxembourgian delegate turns and bows.

"I beg your forgivness, my liege. It may have been a little misguide for me to dare to question your grace. I thank you for your gratefulness. I also have just received this letter from my King."

He opens the letter and starts to read aloud.

"Dear members of the diet, noble emperor. I have just learned about the assasination of the noble grandmaster of the Teutonic order, and I have decided that this is unacaptable. Also the Poles have not evven bothered answering our letters to them. Therefore the nation of Luxembourg-Hungary is now at WAR with Poland and their allies, the treacherous nation of Bavaria. May god help us all.

Signed, King Sigismund I. of Luxembourg-Hungary"

The luxembourgian turns and takes a seat again.

 

[Txini]

Ludwig of Bavaria gives a note from his aunt Jacqueline of Bavaria for Emperor Albert

 

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Jan van Wassenaer whispers something to the Emperor who says:

"The constable of Holland, noble Gerard ten Berg is tired from the long journey, and need a good nights sleep, before he comes before the Imperial Diet"

 

[unmerged(6015)]

The church man stands to address the Diet

"First, let me give my sincere condolences to you, the Knights of the Teutonic Order. Although our two nations are at war, this is something which is NOT acceptable.
But one matter concerns me, and that is that the good name of Poland has been thrown in with th scum of satan, the Bavarians. Do you need any more proof as to who sent the assaissan, if you find a second assaissan and identify him as a Bavarian, does it not make sense that the first assaissan was also sent by Bavaria? My King has already thrown them out of our alliance and granted military acces to whatever nation should request it to attack the Bavarians, what more would you have him do to prove his inoccence? I do not accuse the Teutons of lying, for I think that they themselves probably were not sure at all as to who sent the first assaissan. The logical assumption wuold have been Poland but now that a clear country has been named as the culprit, with evidence clearly leading to Bavaria. Why do the Teutons continue to say that we, the Poles, hav commited such an act?"