- ARCHIVE - Republican Court of Genoa

[unmerged(9313)]

Doria returns from Nurnberg and continues talks with the Russian representative.

"Noble Russian... we will accept on one condition. That an article is included banning Venice from all trade in those regions. If that is part of the agreement, I'm sure it can be signed."

 

[unmerged(7849)]

The Russian begins,

"I will of course need to ask the Khan of the Golden Horde if he agrees. If he does then I believe we can finally sign this league into existince."

 

[Karamazov]

A German arrives wearing blue robes and speaks to the Doge:

Great Doge of Genoa, my name is Johann von Kiel. I come to act as ambassador for my Lord Duke Philipp I of Hessen.

Genoa and Hessen have not oft gotten along, and we are not particularly concerned about trade, but we feel recent events in the Empire may reveal that we share a certain dissatisfaction for the current Imperial government.

von Kiel draws close and whispers:
The Imperial Princes should not be treated like children. If enough of us do not approve of something, then it cannot be enforced. My Lord wishes to know your plans, so we might help Genoa retain it's authority over it's people. Friends can be hard to find for independent lands such as ours, but the growing thorn will dig deeper if something is not done soon.

 

[unmerged(7849)]

After the man from Russia reads a letter just passed to him he addresses the Doge,

"Good Doge, the Golden Horde has agreed to your wishes and so has Russia. A thirteenth article will be added stating that Venice is banned from trading in our regions."

 

[unmerged(17500)]

A letter arrives from Dubrovnik for the good Doge.

 

[unmerged(8054)]

A man in his late thirties, along with several aidies, request an audience with the Doge. As reasons, he states;
"I am Wolfgang Eichner. As stated by the Reichskammergericht, the Imperial Commerce Commision is to approve of the Genovese trade agrements. I have been sent here by High Treasurer Johann III of Bremen to faciliate this.
I shall require a copy of all Genovese trade agrements, an audience with Doge Doria and for the time being, 10.000 Imperial solidi to cover expenses for me and my men. Furthermore, I have plans to include at least one Genovese with detailed knowledge of the political and commercial situation in my group of investigators, and would appreciate being presented for candidates for that position.
Thank you. You may send the relevant papers to my inn, and summon me when the doge is ready to see me."

 

[unmerged(9313)]

The Doges secretary greets the men in the palazzo hall.

"Your grace, I'm afraid you will have to wait a while. The Doge is preoccupied by other matters, such as the brewing hostilities between Genoa and Venice. The agreements are all here..."

The secretary gives the German a bunch of papers.

"I must however inform you, that there is no money to your disposal. Good day to you, sir."

(ooc: exams and vacation the the next week.)

 

[unmerged(7849)]

A letter arives from Moscow for the Doges eyes only.

 

[unmerged(7849)]

In Genoa.....

"You idiot," belched the engineer, "I said lift that board up, not down."

The workers immediately looked up with a distressed look and began heaving the heavy board back up on the crude pully system. The workers had been busy all week building the new trade house in Genoa. They were on strict orders from the Czar to get it done as soon as possible so trade could begin and their engineers were making good on the Czars word.

The workers had been building all week and were almost done, but already several Russian merchants were standing by waiting to base their operations from the house.

One of the merchants looked at the sky then at the head engineer, "so....when do you think you will be done," he said.

The engineer turned towards him with an angry look, "when Im good and damned ready, and if your so ancy then grab a hammer and help," he said.

The merchants backed off and decided to go touring around the city instead.

 

[unmerged(8054)]

"Excuse me, good sirs, but what do you think you are doing?"
Wolfgang Eichner, sent by the Imperial Commerce Commission to investigate the treaties sgned by Genoa without ICC-approval, had heard about the Russian artisans, and had decided to inspect the building site himself. And here he stood, watching men build a trading house on Imperial soil, based on a treaty the Reichskammergericht had just declared invalid.
"I kindly remind you that Genoas trading agrements with Russia have yet to be ratified by the Imperial Commerce Commission. I am aware that I cannot order you to stop the building, but I do warn you that this construction, should it be put to its original use, is a violation of Imperial laws."

It was the same everywhere he went. He had not yet been granted an audience with the Doge, and all reports indicated that the taxations, harbour fess and tolls, followed the now illegegal treaties as if nothig had happened in Nurnberg. It was obvious that doge Doria did in no way respect the verdict passed by the Reichskammergericht.

 

[unmerged(7849)]

The Russian engineer with a very annoyed look on his face because he was interupted in the middle of his work addresses the man,

"I do not follow the laws of Joachim, only the laws of Vasily II, and I have a order from him to build this house along with the Doge of Genoas signature on it. So that is why I am here, to finish this building; I know nothing as far as trade commissions go. Now if you excuse me, I need to get back to work."

 

[Archeolooginspe]

*An emissary arrives from the archbishop of Cologne, his name is Rudolf Schwartz, and he's a canon at the cathedral of Köln*

Our father, the pious archbishop of Cologne, sends his kind regards to his Genovese Bretheren of which his loyal friends the bishop of Koblenz is descendend. He further wishes to announce the latest invention of the Colognian Artisans, it's made of rubber and wood and mainly used for unclogging of toilets above the moat, which they have named a 'plunger'. He hopes to conclude a trade treaty giving eachothers merchant free access to eachothers market and a 'monopoly' for 10 years for the sale of 'plungers' by Colognian merchants and a lower tariff on Colognian Wine. He says that the Genoans may in return ask what is in their interest. He furter asks, that me, his representative, may have access to this court and pay be stationed at the cardinal's place.

 

[unmerged(17500)]

A secret letter is sent to the Doge from the the Duke of Ragusa.

 

[cccino]

In Hungary, the King passes on a letter to the Genoan ambassador to be relayed to the Doge.


Alessandro my friend,

It has become apparent that the Venetians are unable to fulfill their commitments to Hungary. Therefore I offer you the opportunity to take up the contract left hanging by be Venice.

I propose an immediate renewal of our current contract, with the following additions and changes:

• Genoa shall increase its supply of weapons to Hungary by an additional 50%, to cover the remaining equipment not yet delivered by Venice.
• Genoa shall invest in the completion of the arsenal facilities near Kassa, and is contracted to build a second arsenal at Visegrád near Buda.
• Genoa shall be the only foreign nation permitted to import Silk into Hungary, to be enforced by excessive taxation.
• Hungary and Genoa grant each others armies military access in times of need.
• Hungary and Genoa guarantee each other peace and non-aggression.

I eagerly await your response,
Matthias, King of Hungary and Croatia.

 

[unmerged(8915)]

Event

Silk trade monopoly​

The camels of the caravans have passed over the endless sands of the Gobi dessert for millennia. The soft touch of the wares worth more than their weight in gold in the distant western lands. From the small larvae to the skin of the richest queens’ of the Atlantic coast the wares are transported under the most grueling conditions, taxing the hardiest caravan. But it is all worth for the price is unimaginable and the clothing made of silk is the dream of the most powerful monarchs of Christian Europe, securing generous profits to all who have a hand and risk much in the perilous transportation. For rich rewards are secured for those who take part in it and a monopoly was a long dream of all merchant realms on the coast of the Mediterranean. Genoa now striving for mastery of the source to Europe. Will her treaties with realms of the musulman to the East provide the desired result?

1. The monopoly is successful and the chests of Genoans fill fast (+1 starting eco, +1 current eco, +1 morale for 1 yearto Genoa).

2. The monopoly is partially successful and Genoa reaps the profits (+1 starting eco, +1 current eco for 1 year to Genoa).

3. The traders of Genoa trade with silk, but somehow the state chest does not increase (no effect).

4. The traders care little for royal proclamations and silk flows as before – to the highest bidder (no effect).

5. The Genoans expended large sums to procure favourable agreements with the Turks and Mongols, but it seems to be a wasted effort (-1 morale for 1 year to Genoa).

6. The flow of silk, never bending to the will of monarchs continues uninterrupted through pirate havens and other Muslim realms throughout the eastern Mediterranean, while empty Genoan trading vessels are awaiting cargo on ports no longer favoured by the caravans (-2 current eco, -1 morale for 1 year to Genoa).



Roll:3. The traders of Genoa trade with silk, but somehow the state chest does not increase. Possibly the Genoans have not directed enough funds to the enterprise and the Muslim kingdoms have not been enticed enough to prosecute the agreed upon plan to the fullest. For now, Genoa receives no visible profit from its trade agreements to the East (no effect).

* * * * *

 

[cccino]

A further letter arrives from Hungary, but this one is not read aloud in the court.

 

[unmerged(3236)]

A trader comes sailing into the magnicifent harbour of Genoa from the distant port of Aleppo. The ship is just a small tradevessel and noone would pay any notice to it if it wasnt for the flag of the ship, the flag of the infidel swines of the Al-Agta Khanate.

When the ship lands in harbour a man walks of carrying a small chest. The man doesnt bring his goods to the market which imidiatly brings some faul jokes form the local traders, little did they know that this man was indeed not lost, he knew exactly how to find the court.

When he arrives at the court he had to discuss with the guards for a while before they finaly allows him to enter, once there he walks up to the Doge and bows very slightly and hands over the chest.

Noble doge of Genoa, i hand over this chest of Silk to thee as a gift. Not as a gift to show gratitude or fiefhood but more as a goodbye gift.

The fine silk you now hold in your hand is the last fine silk you will ever see, as Aghakhan Hytshtej, the supreme owner of the Silkroute have decided that Genoa are not worthy of his friendship.

When Genoa have proven themself to be worthy of respect then, and not sooner, will the aghakhan give thee respect and reopen the Silkroute for the merchants of Genoa.

 

[unmerged(9945)]

The representative of The Golden Horde in Genoa clears up any worries that The Doge may be having.

"Do not worry Doge, this threat by The Timurids does not effect the silk trade between The Golden Horde and Genoa. They hold no sway over our silk routes that pass through Siberia. Your prosperity is in no danger, this representative is misinformed I am afraid."

 

[unmerged(3236)]

The trader looks upon the representative of the Golden Horde with a look of mixed confusion and anger

Excuse me noble Elci, but do you have any idea how minimal the silktrade through siberia is? My aghakhan recives more Silk in a week then you noble horde in a full year.

 

[unmerged(8054)]

As soon as Wolfgang Eichner, the head of the ICC delegation in Genoa, heard about the silk trade and the troubles this had caused, he asked for an audience with Doga Doria.

"Noble doge. Allthough I respectfully remind Your Grace that I have still not received the funding for my investigation Your Grace was fined by the Reichskammergericht, and have still not been granted an audience in which to discuss the minor correctments needed for your trading agrements to receive Imperial approval, I kindly wish to remind Your Grace that this is exactly the reason the Imperial Commerce Commission exists. If Your Grace and the merchants of Genoa are in need of Imperial assistance in solving this matter, do not hesitate to ask. I am sure we can find a solution."