- ARCHIVE - Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire

[Darth Tracid]

Karl of Limburg, visibly shaken by the words that ring through the diet, stands and says.

"Delegates of the empire, know that Luxembourg-Hungary stands with the emperor, now and for all times! We shall not let this noble man be deposed without honour and dignity, like a man of his greatness deserves."

 

[Longinus]

Zakrzycki's voice is chill when he responds to von Korff.

"Enough of those insults herr von Korff. We all know how it really looked like. I standed in these halls before this assembly and begged Liga von Nurnberg for peace and at least ceaso of fire and negotiations. But NO! Your insolence and pride was high, you wanted to follow Austria and help them to annex Bohemia under Hussite pretext"

He sighs.

"Imperial armies and small principalities were exploited and used in this war, then Austria thrown them away like rubbish some of those principalities were even insulted.

We supported Victor von Blommenstein from the begining and didn't recieved a word of prise nor support, only demands and insults. He is simple-minded and incompetent man and it seems he employ similar people. Hopefully some toadies here will loose thier position soon."

He pauses for a moment.

"Know that herr von Korff that Victor von Blommenstein has just lost his last chance of support from Pommerania. This is a sad end indeed. I have little confidence in him and my overlord, Joachim of the Greif has no confidence in Victor von Blommenstein who once wanted to be first man in the Empire and Europe."

 

[unmerged(5730)]

von Eimand gives von Korff that sad look, and also on his cheek a small tear can be seen rolling. He sighs before he picks up his pen to write a letter.

 

[Schlieffen]

Von Korff laughs slightly.
You seem to think I was leading the Liga or something. I've lived in Frankfurt all my life, and have never been south of Mainz, short of a few stops in France.
As for Victor, he was not a leader of an Imperial state until he was elected Emperor. Even if you do confuse him with Cologne, though, you will note that his brother opposed the annexation. And before you tell me that "he didn't do enough", you did even less, refusing to even declare war because you were not offered enough concessions. You did not want a free Bohemia. If you did then you wouldn't have demanded it as a vassal.

As for the rest of you, I hope that you do not mind losing the independence for the Empire from the Papacy that we have worked hundred of years to gain. First Albert, and now Victor will be removed by the Vatican, and you all tollerate it, even support it, without a single complaint or reservation.
Just remember, you're all next. It will only be so long before your counts rise up against you as you do the Emperor, and the Emperor removes your titles just as the Pontiff does at will. If you wish to throw away the Empire, the Empeor can not stop you because he holds no country, and if you wish to take advantage of that, then history will remember you for doing that.

 

[unmerged(11012)]

Respected Sultan
Blood shattered in the beautiful and peaceful shores of Tunisia. Great devastation occured to the land of Tunisia. The great name of Alla was greatly disgraced for the actions taken by Emir of Mammelukes. All the muslim nations are now disgraced about Mammelukes. The great ferocious warriors of Tunisia faught a battle for days and vanquished the pirats to pieces except one. This one was left with one leg, one hand and eye. But the cost paid was high, too high. The Emir of Mammelukes became a disgrace to Emir Abdulraham to call him as his brother in Alla. How dare an Emir, chosen by the great god Alla to disgrace him, and fight his own brother, destroy his own neighbors for the sake of greed. The one captured came to the feet of Emir Abdulraham. "Who did this?" he ordered. "I donna know" The other leg was cut. "Ahhhaa! Ahhaa!" "Who did this?" "NO! Ahha! please Ahha! don't , I beg you, don't" "Who did this!" "It was, ahha, It was Emir of Mammelukes, ahhhhaaaa!" "What? Speak the turth, you disgrace. Not my brother, not a follower of Alla!" "I ahhaa! I speek the truth" "Tell the truth, you disgrace...tell the truth! Not my brother! Cut the other hand" "Noo! I tell ahha! I tell you the truth, let the great names of pyrats ahha! be disgraced and dishonord, I tell ahhha, maaaaa! I tell you the truth, it was Emir of Mammelukes." "What?" "Can this be! No! Not my own brother in the great god Alla!" "Great god Alla, I head to you! Death!!! DEATH to those that raise their hand against Alla and a followr of Alla. Let the full wrath of Alla be declared on the brute that had caused great pain to a peaceful land" "Let there be justice, let the honor of thine name be kept among the truthful followers of Alla!" "Great god Alla! Thine eye of Justice is now bleeding! Let the followers of Alla heal the wound before much disgrace" "How dare the Emir of Mammeluke disgrace Alla, the one who made him head of the great lands, and plot to destroy his own brother?" "Death, Death to those who disgrace Alla!!!" "The price, the death of all the ferocious Tunisian followers and warrors to Alla are now dead, floating in the port and too much loss, too much pain" "My brother, let us unite, and heat the great wound done to the honor of Alla" "One who made a pact in the name of Alla, The Mammelukes, planned to destroy the peaceful land of Tunisia. If the honor of Alla is to be restored, let us correct the wrong doing of Emir of Mammeluke." Please send a note of support to Tunisian Emir, Abdulraham, the most loyal to Alla.

 

[unmerged(3110)]

Corleone takes a look at the chap speaking of Sultans, and thinks he's halucinating. So he ignores it.

"My lord Von Korff. I will correct you on one thing. It was Myself and the Pontiff that convinced Grand Duke Albert to release a province as Bohemia, and not Victors threats. Just ask the Austrians"

"You dishonour Victor. He has noble grace that , if weak, is still well meening for the Empire. I'm sure he wouldn't like this to degenerate and his legacy as emperor to be civil war."

"Mother church just wants to throw all here wieght behind a crowned Emperor that will bring back old glories. The soul of the Empire sickens. Do you expect all good thinking men to stand by and watch as it falls to insanity?"

"Even Victor, I'm sure, sees his position as untenable and would not draw a bitter war from this situation. He is a man of honour and dignity that would think of the Empire first.. Surely. If what you say of him is true."

"And,... err....Karl of Limburg Does that meen Luxembourg-Hungary gives a vote of confidance for Victor? Here's that bible to swear on."

He hands it over.

"The position so far is that, Cologne and possibly Luxembourg declare confidance; and Austria, Pommern, Hessen, Wuerttemberg, Wurzburg, Palatinate, Saxony, and Trier, no confidance."

"I will give it a further couple of weeks and add the final total."

"While we wait. Is there a lifting of the disqualification of Bohemia as an elector now?"

 

[Schlieffen]

Von Korff rises.
Your Eminence, if you had not come here demanding Victor's resignation and if he wasn't crusading for the Pope in Rome, then he would be here, bringing his Empire closer together. Negotiations were taking place with the northern states to bring them to his side again even during the crusade, and had you not interupted with first a crusade and then a call of a vote of "no confidence" -- something that is practicaly treason since he is more then able to fufil his duties as King of the Romans, unlike Albert's situation when he was in a prison and his fate looked grim -- then there wouldn't be a problem. The only problem in the Empire that is unsolvable is one created by the church.
Might I also add that the Church is in to position to worry about the temporal Electors such as Bohemia, especialy considering how little you seem to place in the value of the election of the King of the Romans. If I were to go to Rome and...
Suddenly a large banging inturupts the Diet's business. The doors to the Diet open, and two bewildered guards step to each side of it. Past the doorway walks Victor I, wearing the full place armor he wore when he last departed, followed by three officers of the Imperial military, Cologne's Commander-in-Chief amongst them. He walks past the bewildered diplomats up to his position at the head of the Diet and turns around quickly, pivoting on the heel of his metal boot, his arms crossed behind his back. He speaks as he glares over the Diet.

Now, what is this I hear about members of the Empire attempting to depose me?

 

[unmerged(8054)]

The confusion following Victors I's appearance had just settled, when the delegates from Pommern and Bremen were summoned to a private audience with the Emperor.

The three men spoke for some time in private, and when they returned, Ullrich Dyck looked at Cardinal Corleone and the bible he held.
Then Ullrich Dyck looked at the Emperor, but the Bremer delegate did not take any steps toward the cardinal. It was as if he was waiting for something.

 

[Auspend]

Zweig looks on, stunned as Victor I bursts in. His eyes follow Victor all the way up to the head of the Diet, and after Victor speaks he looks over at Cardinal Corleone. The look on his face begs Corleone to adress the King of the Romans, hoping that the cunning churchman mught be able to better deal with the angry leader.

 

[Karamazov]

von Spangler tries not to laugh. He knows this is an incredibly serious matter, but he also know how tangled everything is. Best to keep quiet when stakes are high, he reminds himself. He backs into the shadows, waiting to see if Corleone or von Blommenstein will act.

 

[Schlieffen]

After seeing the various looks of shock and glances towards the Cardinal - Magnus included amongst those suprised, but hiding it well - Victor once again speaks.

Gentlemen, I have multiple points to defend myself with, the foremost being the fact that I was elected in the first place. What you're attempting to do is depose your direct leader, the equivalent of those beneath you doing the same thing. But I digress for the sake of diplomacy; I will have no threats or insults made in these halls, at least not by myself.
The fist reason that I shall state is that, as far as I know, I have listened to all complaints and requests made in this Diet, and replied to them to the best of my ability. If I have failed in this respect ever, then I apologize for doing so, and will gladly see any legates privately to clear up the matter.
The second is that I have attempted to be fair in every respect, asking the Diet's oppinion in practicaly every major matter that did not seem one sided -- the crusade, for example, being a one-sided matter. Again, I apologize if I have failed to ever do this, and will attempt to consult the Diet more often in matters that involve the states of the Empire more than my own person -- war, trade and such compared to titles diplomacy, and the like. Again, if you ever have an issue you wish brought before me, my office door is generaly open to the public if I am not speaking with another legate or nobleman.
Thridly is that, unlike the previous King of the Romans, I am able to fufil my duties as Emperor. I am not locked up in a French prision with my life possibly on the lines -- a situation I regret ever occured in the first place -- and, thus, should not be removed based on my "inability to rule". Considering the situation I was placed in charge of when I first sat on the throne, I would have to say that I have not done at least unbelievably bad -- the Empire is not collapsing under my feet, something even I feared would occur when I was elected.
The fourth reason is that, unlike many states in western Europe, the Empire has been in the crusade since the first battle outside the gates of Venice, the only inturuption being when I shortly moved west a few miles before Bremen agreed to fight under the Imperial banner rather then her own against Saxony, and now when I am forced to be here to answer for crimes that not only did I not commit, but do not exist. Might I also add that I was the only Christian monarch on the fields during the crusade -- none fought besides me who had a crown to defend.

Did the Kings of England, Aragon, or the other states of the former Federation have dukes attempting to depose him when they pulled out of the crusade? Why, Cardinal Corleone, is His Holiness not attempting to inquire into their affairs, rather then chastise me for crimes that do not exist and hurt the Empire, the only loyal crusader so far? Why do you not inquire into Portugal's affairs, those who have literaly sold their conquests to the Heathens, rather than force me to pull my forces back to defend the crown that I legaly acquired?
Or will the Vatican attempt to make this into another accusation against me? Is it now to be a sin worthy of removing my crown for me to return to Frankfurt to defend it?
Will every crusader be forced to crusade as the Vatican says that their rulers are unfit to rule and attempts to overthrow them? Why will we crusade if we cannot quell unrest in our relms, even if the Church that we crusade for is who causes it?
Will the Vatican next attempt to control more of the Empire? Will the next candidate for King of the Romans after I be rejected by the Pope outright, recieving no reason at all for his rejection? Will the Pope name his own candidate, refusing to crown any other as the Emperor? Are we now unfit to select our own rulers?

I ask you these things, Your Eminence, because you have forced me to. I remained a humble servant to the Church as you inquired into the practices of some of my fiefs, requesting only that the Vatican respect them as Imperial nobles, but I now find that the most loyal to the Church -- those who actualy lead their armies into the field while others drop out or sell out do the Heathens -- will find the Church attempting to remove them because they are "unfit" to rule. I will hopefuly hold no grudge, but I request that you answer my questions, as the Vatican has generated them to be answered.

 

[unmerged(3110)]

As the Emperor bursts in and Nobles cower, Corleone raises an eyebrow and speaks. Gracefully composed and blithe.

With a graceful bow.....

"Ahhh...... Your Imperial Highness. I was wondering how long it would take you to arrive...... A pleasant journey, I hope?"

"The fire in you is most becoming. Perhaps you begin to show the Emperor you could be?"

"Did you leave that fine fellow Greif in charge of things or did you just desert?"

"I give you credit for seeking council on what is evidently "prompted" explanations and accusations. You almost had me convinced."

"Had it not been the fact that your past record was so evident, I might have doubted myself, for a moment."

"Your sudden desire to please the diet with an "Open door, and listening ear" policy, should hardly fool them. And the Previous king of the Romans did a better job of running the Empire from a cell than you have in all your time. He even had a highly efficient steward to take care of things while he was away. Who commands the crusade now?"

"To say the Empire is not collapsing under your feet is pure fantasy. Even those that were fervent supporters have no confidence and even evidence of your greed and impiety."

"I am here as a representative of the holy father as an ELECTOR not the pope. I have observed the churches position, that the pope will not crown Victor until he has proven the confidence the Empire should hold in him after this time. This was triggered by his desertion as commander of the Holy crusade at first, but the list of prior failure was long and taken into consideration. "

"From the tone of your acussationary questions I take it you try to divert our attention from the main issue? I'm afraid I don't have the time to play games, but perhaps later I can enlighten you on some of the basics"

"I would ask you to stop referring to the church "hurting" the Empire, my lord Duke. I am here only in fear of the Empires health. Perhaps this is a good example of your mindset. You refer to YOUR Empire and act as if everything in it is YOURS by right. You have the inability to see that it is YOU (Not even Cologne) that threaten the Empire. Even denying it falls apart as we speak."

"How much else of these aggressive queries are ill conceived and misleading?"

"To many....."

"The pope as leader of the church. (Let us remember the two offices represented here) Will crown AND support the winner of an election IF there was no confidence in you. Should an election be called. But firstly, he said if there was confidence in you he would crown you immediately and do the same"

"Having counted the votes, I can see as representative for the electorate of Treir that you have no confidence from those that are the Empire. Do you choose to rule those that ......"


He looks at the cowering nobles.

"Fear and distrust you? Even once allies, hostile? You have another opportunity to have yourself in office. This time with a crown."

"We both know that you hold good position with the elector princes and the overall attitude makes little difference"

"Consider this as a papal favour perhaps...."


He smiles condescendingly.

"A chance to re assert your authority and gain an unassailable position as emperor. For without the crown you are as vulnerable as Albert was. Just look at the farce that was his trial."

"Even then not a finger was lifted. The Holy father will be looking into that too"

"No.. The pope proposes no one for Emperor and will support the temporal arm of the churches leader and independence as the one and only Emperor, the second you , or any other is reconfirmed to the throne."

"The church wants a secure, strong and pious Empire not a plate of spaghetti, with the Emperor as a fork."

"Ohh.... And rest assured. Portugal's folly is being addressed, but it is our business and your maters are more pressing."

"The vote stands at....."

confidence from

Cologne, Luxembourg perhaps.... That makes a dubious 2


No confidence from


Austria, Pommern, Hessen, Wuerttemberg, Wurzburg, Count Palatine, Saxony, Trier. That makes 8

"I now put the good book in the hands of our Bremmen delegate and again the Luxemourg delegate."

"On the holy book. Do you swear you have confidence, or no confidence in the uncrowned Emperor Victor?"

 

[Darth Tracid]

Karl von Limburg stands, and takes the bible offered to him.

"I still have no word from my duchess, but with my best knowledge, I put forth a vote of confidence for victor on behalf of Luxembourg. I believe he has learned much from his mistakes, and that he is the right man to lead the empire, and not one who should be deposed of without honour."

 

[Schlieffen]

You may come here as an "Elector", Cardinal -- Trier is an independent state just as Mainz and Cologne, so I know not exactly what you speak of, but I will let this point go -- but you come because the Church ordered you to. The Pontiff sends his legates to Frankfurt who order a vote be taken to illegaly depose the King of the Romans who is active, alive, and certainly more pius then other monarchs in Europe -- I will state again that no others were in the battlefield with me, none that made their presense made anyways.
And will the Pope now look into all business? You stated that he would look into Albert's trial, Porgual's abandonment of the crusade, the Federation... why has he not done these things first? Why has he decided to attack only those who were not at home, doing his dirty work for him?
And this brings forth another important point: assuming that, in this vote of "no confidence", I am found guilty of whatever-it-is that I am guilty of, will the Church remove a legaly chosen ruler who has commited no crimes against the Church; nay, who has fought most valiently for the Church, only returning when possible civil war is on his doorstep? Is it now the Vatican's job to make sure that all rulers are "fit" to rule their states, regardless of how far off they be or their actual capacity? Will the Pontiff be removing the King of England, or the Duke of Pommern -- as an example only, Herr Zakrzycki -- next? I see no other alternative, as you certainly will remove those who turn around for a mere moment to fight a possible civil war in their states.

And yes, the armies under my direct command are in the Empire's borders, just as Pommern's, Burgundy's, England's, and so many other states' are back in their homes for even lesser reasons. Does the Vatican wish to depose these men as well? The Lord knows that they have less reason to not be in the Balkans as I, as they do not have men such as you within their capitals, preaching against them for non-existant crime.
If you wish for me to continue to crusade agianst the infidel, you will have to leave and stop talking of deposing me; I will not prove you correct when you say I am a "weak Emperor" who allows his Empire to crumble around him. When the Empire begain to crumble, I turned around with my armies to prevent it, and unless you'd rather have it crumble, you should have to complaint against it.

And do not insult me in these halls, or I will arrest you just as the Vatican has my dukes. I hold no quarrel about arresting those who are disrespectful of not only the Empire's laws and the Empire, but the Emperor himself.

 

[Herr Doctor]

Otto Byss was listening all delegates with great attention and then he speaks :

"Holstein always supported Emperor and even now in this terrible times. I think that all noble Cardinal said seems like bad joke. How can he make such insults to the great King of Romans?.. This is only a bad comedy - the Pope hasn`t right to 're-elect' Emperor and all know it. But all try to do it... even Bremen and Saxony who supported Victor at first elections...

But Holstein gives confidence to Emperor."

 

[Longinus]

Zakrzycki remarks bowing slightly before Victor.

"Your Grace,

According to my informations, Albert-Boguslav of the Greif did not withdrawed from the crusade and he still lead part of the crusade, unfortunately a rumor says that some crusaders abandoned it after you took the leadership over them. However, perhaps they are only rumors."

He pauses for a moment.

"As to your current intensions, know that they seems indeed noble, but will they convince others to follow you once again? Pommern was always loyal and supported you from the very beginning yet you turned from us and from your other supporters, but maybe it is still a time to reach consensus... maybe."

He bows again and returns to his seat.

 

[Schlieffen]

Herr Zakrzycki, I appologize for any insults I have made to you our your state, as I did not intend to make them. If any of my actions were seen as wrong and it is within my power to change them without serious loss to the Empire or its states, then it should have been brought up with me, and I would have considered the alternatives suggested.
But we have already spoken on such matters, and hopefuly this can be placed behind us as a misunderstanding on all of our parts. I do not wish to bear grudges that have as much fault on my part as those who recieve my dislike, and would rather have friends in the north than enemies.

 

[unmerged(8054)]

After hearing this from the Emperor, Ullrich Dyck rises and speaks:

"Your Majesty.

Some months ago, in the times when Bremen and Pommern flatly refused to follow you into war, since you had in no way guarenteed that Austria would not be annexed as a result of such war, you stated the following:

If I accomplished nothing else other than having the Diet embarress me and the Imperial title, I learned who is willing to stab me in the back and who uses the Empire as a tool to gain territories, crowns, titles, vassals, monies, and trade concessions and will not forget who these individuals are.

.

Your Majesty. At that time, it was clear to all that you talked about the dukes of Pommern and Bremen.
I trust that you understand that this is a grave insult, an insult Your Majesty has not tried to remedy since.
My lord, Duke Johann III, cannot support a men who has insulted him so, and it is my hope that Your Majesty understands this."

Ullrich Dyck then returns to his seat, without taking the bible cardinal Corleone holds out to him.

 

[Schlieffen]

Well, Herr Dyck, if you are willing to appoligize to me on behalf of your state for your acts in the past, then I am as well. Both your state and I have made mistakes that led to that unfortunate situation, and I am more than willing to appologize for my part.

 

[LUDWIG]

Albert sits calmly in his seat; his fingers caress his beard playfully.
Albert began to think to himself,
Why do they fear him Albert? He is finished and yet they shrink from him. Perhaps they still fear the dignity of the Imperial crown.
The Empire may yet be salvaged from this decrepit state

Albert turns to face the newly arrived Victor.
"I see you have returned from the wars Victor.
For all your bluster about being the only monarch to go to the front it doesn't take much bravery to do what you have done.
For surely sir you are not going to deny that you fought surrounded by the assembled might of Venice, Austria, Hessen, Pommern and Cologne.
There have been entire crusades with less manpower then you had with you. Bravery is to face a foe knowing that you could die at any second. I faced the might of the Hussites with scarcely enough troops to withstand the assault and yet I lived.
If you wish to show courage then face the Mongol hordes with only the might of Cologne at your back.
You will be dead before the first charge hits your ranks.

As to your leadership I left you an Empire with more stability then most Kingdoms. I left you with a system that made it nearly impossible to remove the Emperor. I left you with a system that gave every Duchy in the Empire a voice. A voice Victor that you seem determined to silence.
I appointed a Steward to rule in my absence; you have stubbornly refused to delegate any of your authority to a single soul.
The Empire is far too big to be ruled by only one man, it needs a sensible system of government. I provided a framework for that government but your petulant ways have erased the stability I worked so hard to provide.

I care not for your fancy words Victor; you have failed to show leadership when tested. The Crusade should never have been stalled even for a moment. Appoint a second to run your affairs when you stray from home. I have at least 3 senior officials who tend to Austria when I am away. How was it that while in prison I managed to successfully run my lands, defeat an invading army AND keep Austria stable?
Until you know how to share power with others you will never be able to rule the Empire.

Now Victor due to your carelessness there will be a civil war.
For if you are removed then one faction will rise in revolt, yet if you are not removed another faction will rebel.
You have turned the most secure realm in Europe into a petty infighting farce. For that I despise you and you twisted adherence to a dusty document.
The Golden Bulle was signed by an Emperor and thus can be remade by any other Emperor.
Do not hostage the Empire to some outdated treaty, learn to adapt. For if you do not adapt to your environment it will adapt to conquer you."

Turning to face the Cardinal
"My Good Cardinal, Austria did indeed release the province of Bohemia in accordance with the wishes of the Holy Father.
I welcome you as one Elector to another, for I am regent of Bohemia until the young King Ladislav comes of Age.
Should you call for a formal vote of the Electors I shall publicly support your motion. For I find Victor the worst criminal of all, he ruined his legacy, destroyed the reputation of the Empire and worst of all brought chaos where there was peace.
I know not if you already have lodgings my Lord Cardinal but I would be honoured to grant you rooms in the Austrian Embassy in Frankfurt or if these are not to your liking I shall provide suitable accommodation at my own expense.
This is no time to appear cheap before the world, I shall do all that you require to ensure you are well accommodated."

With that Albert returned to his seat, smiling broadly and stroking his goatee.