Court of His Holiness in Avignon

[Valdemar]

Cardinal Clausse moved slowly through the palace packing up his things. There would be a formal burial soon, but he had said his good byes and with the young count out of the country on his tour to ensure support and show allegiance it would not require his attention. Besides, the house chaplain would need to perform the service, in honour of the widowed countess.

He slowly made his way down to courtyard, and with a small entourage left Chambery in the same manner he had come, by horseback like he and Amadeus had done so many times in their youth.

He arrived late in Avignon, and merely scribbled a brief note to be handed to the Holy Father before turning in for the night.

Father,

It is over, he has found peace, I have prayed for his soul, and for that of his son,

Cardinal Clausse

 

[unmerged(9770)]

A letter is delivered to cardinal Jean de la Grange

Unto Jean de la Grange, Cardinal-Bishop of Frascati,

Your Illustriousness

As a son of late King`s Charles V of France, whose Your Illustriousness was an respected advisor, and also as a member of a Regency Council, which your Iloustriousness is a member as well, I know and esteem high Your Iloustriousness` reason and experience.

Therefore I dare to request a personal audience with Your Iloustriousness, when I seek for Your Iloustriousness` advice in matters of great importance.

I hope Your Iloustriousness will find a time for my humble person, when the matter concerns both future of France and the Papacy in Avignon.

Signed and sealed

Luis Valois, Regent of France, Duc d'Anjou et de Touraine, Duc de Maine, Comte de Provence, King of Naples, Sicily & Jerusalem​

​

 

[von Streusser]

Avignon​

Through the streets of the city he walked, accompanied by only one man, and wearing a simple garment of sackcloth. But still he had a noble bearing, an unbreakable pride that underlay even these humble gestures. Though he was dressed quite humbly, the people still stopped to stare...he was too clean to be a peasant, too well fed, too clearly used to the luxuries of position. But the man and his attendant paid the peasants no mind.

Upon arriving at the Papal Court, the man in the sackcloth garment bows deeply, hands clasped before his chest as if in prayer, and introduces himself to the Pope's personal secretary. "Your Illustriousness, I am Martin, son of Peter IV of Aragon. I humbly request an audience with His Holiness at his convenience, and have brought a small donation to help in the burden of His most Holy works." Martin flicked a gesture at his attendant, who produced a small chest concealed within the baggage he carried. The attendant released the clasp on the chest and opened it briefly, showing it to be filled with gold coins and several sizeable gemstones of not-insignificant value, then handed it over to the Papal secretary to deliver to His Holiness.

"I humbly await His Holiness' will."

 

[unmerged(17489)]

The German pilgrims who entered Avignon in February of 1384 were far from a rare sight in the city, and thus they were hardly taken note of when they travelled to the Curia. That's why noone really noticed how they brought the thing that differed these pilgrims from normal pilgrims to the Curia and delivered the letter to its reciever. Thus was their mission complete, and they continued their pilgrimage. Letter was, of course, written in latin.

Anno Domini 1383​

Unto His Holiness Papa Clement VII, Universal Father of the True Church, Pontifex Maximus, Servus Servorum Dei, Holy Father, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Chief of the Apostles, Patriarch of the West, Vicar of the Son of God et cetera, et cetera.

​

Gloria in altissimis Deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis!​

Holy Father, let me thank thee and tell you that I too as my predecessors am very grateful for what you and your predecessors have done for Sweden in recent times. The independence of the primate of Sweden issued by The Blessed Gregorius X being the perhaps most important one. I believe all these things are signs, your holiness, that something big will happen in Sweden in the near future. The symbolism from our Lord is sometimes easy to decipher, since the birth of Christ and the star of Betlehem God has used such symbolism to warn or inform us about his will. In fact, the night when I was appointed archbishop I and many people with me saw the stars shine brighter than usual which I do not think can be misinterpreted. God has something large in mind for Sweden in the future, and I as his loyal servant must help him in what he's doing.

Holy Father, I'm sad to inform you that the primate in Sweden was misruled during the years of Birger Gregersson, a name that doesn't deserve being latinized into Benedictus Gregorius for his misdeeds and deciet against God. For fifteen years the devil has been allowed to be active in the houses of God in Sweden, whispering unholy things in the ears of the priests and permeating our land with his evil teachings. His spirit has sweeped through the land like a disease spreading from parish to parish, and Your Holiness I think it is this the stars are trying to tell us. This is a new beginning for Sweden, where we finally will be able to live as loyal servants to God and benefit from what the Roman church has been trying to do for Sweden but sadly has been mismanaged.

Holy Father, I realize the church is holy and should not be changed, but when someone has changed it I believe it is God's will that it is restored to what it used to be. I take on myself during my time as Prima Suecia to restore the church of Sweden to what it was, and to show it the light again so that we can all live as we want following the teachings of Christ and as servants of Him.

Holy Father, I need help in this though. I am sadly not Christ, alone I cannot change the ill spirit of the land but with your help and blessing I can see that the teachings of God will reach every corner of this country and that the citizens of Sweden again will walk the path fo the rightous and faithful. What is listed below should not be seen as a list of needs, but as a list of what I wish would be done to help the restoration. I pray that God will help me and that Your Holiness will read this letter. Sweden is not worthy of your compassion, but we hope that You will see us where we stand and hlp us out of the darkness. I ask for only four things:

• The canonization of Birgitta Birgersdotter of Sweden to recognize her as the patron saint of Sweden so that I with her help as well as God's can succeed. Her life was only second to Christ in faithful, she's the founder of the Bridgetine Order and author of Revelationes coelestes which gives and account for her numerous revelations in life. She made numerous pilgrimages and lived in Rome to be near the pope from 1350 to her death in 1373.
  
  
• Your Holiness' blessing in my actions, to give them justification and acceptance among the nobles. I also wish Your Holiness could pray for me in my quest against the devil.
  
  
• Economic help, as unfortunate it is that religious means requires worldly resources. It is necessary, but the aim is good and even the single silver florine is appreciated up north where the church was poor before and now even poorer after having been exposed to the teachings of Satan.
  
  
• Your Holiness' forgiveness for us letting this unfaithful man ruling the church of Sweden for so long, without letting us see what was doing. We were lead up the garden path by the devilish servants of Satan, and without the forgiveness of God we will enter his realm.

Please let us make up for our sins, and let us again enter the path of the faithful

Signed and sealed by his own hand in Stockholm,

Pax Vobiscum,

Henricus Caroli, Episcopus Ubsaliensis, Prima Suecia​

 

[unmerged(18481)]

Avignon​

Upon arriving at the Papal Court, the man in the sackcloth garment bows deeply, hands clasped before his chest as if in prayer, and introduces himself to the Pope's personal secretary. "Your Illustriousness, I am Martin, son of Peter IV of Aragon. I humbly request an audience with His Holiness at his convenience, and have brought a small donation to help in the burden of His most Holy works." Martin flicked a gesture at his attendant, who produced a small chest concealed within the baggage he carried. The attendant released the clasp on the chest and opened it briefly, showing it to be filled with gold coins and several sizeable gemstones of not-insignificant value, then handed it over to the Papal secretary to deliver to His Holiness.

The eyes of Jacques de Mantenay widened, his mouth opened slightly when he glimpsed the contents of that small chest. So far behavingly arrogantly and haughtily with the pilgrim in the sackcloth garment, this trusted chaplain of the Holy Father now turned shy and meek immediately; he took over the chest in breathless silence, and held it with the greatest care, as though it contained some most holy relics.

“His Holiness will be most pleased,” much confused, Mantenay muttered. “He’ll be most pleased indeed, Prince Martin.” After some hesitation, he bowed slightly, the bowed again, now more deeply; though he wasn’t entirely sure about the relations between the Kingdom of Aragon and the Holy See, the treasure he was holding in his very own hands lent the Prince Martin an aura of near-divine dignity.

Prince Martin of Aragon was given a rather modest shelter in the local priory of the Benedictines, a cell that befitted his garment but not his rank. He was asked to eat with the monks, though at a separate table, where he was served a diet much better than an average monk could ever hope for: Martin could feel the yearning-envious glances of the novices and oblates while he was eating. Concerning the requested audience, he got no news for a long time: His Holiness -- Martin was told -- had fallen ill, and was currently recovering in his summer residence at Villa Nova.

But he was certainly not forgotten: both Jean Cardinal de la Grange and the bihsop Pierre Bohier had a great care for him and his cause. Though their care was not necessarily visible (in fact neither of them met with him at all), it had signs -- such as the fact that the Prince was housed at the Benedictine priory. Through the prior, Martin was told that the Duke Juan de Teurel, excommunicated by the Holy Father, was beguested in the Palais de Papes -- the poor Aragonese envoy whose only sin was that he had told his King’s message to the Pope preferred the safety of the Palace over the hostile outside world where his excommunication was well-known, thus he, being denied of protection of any kind, was considered an easy prey.

A week passed, two weeks passed, three full weeks passed. But then the Holy Father finally returned to the Alte Roma, and a day later he began to grant audiences: Martin was recieved in the great consistorial hall with a splendour that was in a striking contrast with the Prince’s sackcloth garment; speaking of that garment, the Holy Father seemed to have a liking for it: Clemens Pappas Septimus was grinning like the Cheshire cat as he traced a tiny cross in the air, blessing the Prince. Despite the rumours of his illness, he was looking very healthy now, his face round and florid, his eyes glittering with joy.

“Ecce clarissimus filius noster in Christo,” the Pope recited. “Here is Our beloved son in Christ. He is now returning to Us in a properly servile manner, and We receive him with arms wide open.” Clement paused, trying to supress his grin; de la Grange and Bohier had spent a great deal of time trying to persuade him, so much time that by now he thought that granting Majorca to a younger son of the King of Aragón was in fact his idea from the beginning. And now that the plans he thought to be his own were about to be realized -- now he was overjoyed indeed.

The Holy Father smiled at the Prince with a weird parody of benevolence, and made a slight wave of hand, allowing Martin to speak.

 

[von Streusser]

For three weeks, Martin lived the life of a monk. He attended morning prayers, mass, and evensong; he walked the grounds of the priory; and he spent a great deal of time in prayer and personal reflection. When the day of his audience with His Holiness finally arrived, he appeared before the Pope, still in his sackcloth garment. The Prince of Aragon bowed low, nearly prostrating himself, and finally spoke.

"Your Holiness, I thank you for your blessing and for granting me this audience. I also thank our Heavenly Father for returning your good health to you, so that you may continue His good works among men. Some good yet has come of it, as I have had sufficient time since my arrival to ponder God's eternal mysteries, and devoted myself anew to His service in prayer.

There is so much I feel needs to be discussed, Your Holiness, that I barely know where to begin. The Baleares, the fate of the eternal souls of both my father and brother, the fate of the Duque Juan de Teurel...I have attempted, during my long periods of contemplation, to come to solutions for these dark troubles, but I beg you pardon them; for I lack your divinely inspired wisdom, or the wisdom of Our Lord.

My father, King Peter, is wrought with grief at the loss of his daughter. In this moment of weakness, he experienced the self-doubt that so often plagues fallible man...he felt he could no longer fulfill or face Our Lord's Holy duties to the Reconquista. He is a good and Christian man, but in his pain and grief he stumbled from the way of Our Lord. I fear he became susceptible to most unfortunate advice. I have spoken with my father, and like any good and true son, have tried to help him from the sins of his past. He has now decided that, in order to gain absolution, he must make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and spend his last days in contemplation of Our Lord's sacrifice upon the Mount. My heart weeps to see my father go, but it rejoices at his salvation.

But then there is my brother, Juan. My dearest brother, who I have tried so many times to help back to the path of Our Lord Jesus Christ, spends his days in sloth, gluttony, lust, and idleness. In furtherance of these goals, I fear he persuaded my father away from his duties to the Church and onto the sinful path he has tread, selling the Baleares to the infidel and abandoning the Reconquista! To know the future fate of his soul rends my heart, Your Holiness! I beg your wisdom, how may we save him from eternal damnation and hellfire? Were he to renounce his material possessions and enter the service of the Church, could he still be saved?

As for the Baleares and Majorca, perhaps Your Holiness' wisdom may be of use to us again? If they were granted back, through your charity and good grace, to the Royal Family of Aragon, perhaps even to my humble self, our gratitude would know no bound. I have heard that there are several islands among the chain which grow indigo and other valuable crops...surely these estates could be put to good and Holy use if they were to be granted to the Church once Aragon is recognized by Your Holiness as the only legitimate owner and claimant to the Baleares?

Finally, the poor Duque Excommunicate. Again I must defer, for I know not whether the Duque deserves your Holy forgiveness or the cleansing fire of the heretic's stake. The lies he presented to you, however, deserve an apology from me, for he betrayed and insulted you and the Church most deeply. Aragon recognizes, and shall never stray from, Your Holiness as the supreme pontiff of the Church. But say the word, and I shall have the Duque given a heretic's death...or I shall forgive him and welcome him back into his home in Aragon.

I pray for your wisdom, Your Holiness."

 

[Valdemar]

To the Holy Father in Avignon, the only true pope, Clemens VII,

Holy Father,

I am forever humbled by your most pleasing letter. The loss of my father will forever be a wound on my soul, but I will seek comfort in the thought of a most noble father in Spirit.

I will personally come to Avignon as soon as possible and seek your blessing.

Signed, in Aix,

Amadeus of Savoy​

​

​

*-*-*-*

To Pierre, Comte des Genevois & Gonfalonier d’Église

Noble Cousin,

It is with great joy amidst the sadness of my father’s untimely departure that I received your letter.

I would be most honoured to accept both gifts and mass. My father would be humbled by such a display of loyalty and love.

I can only agree that his Chivalric Ideals was beyond pair. I will however strive to live by them in a world were such a manner is fast declining.

Signed, in Aix,

Your ever loyal cousin,

Amadeus of Savoy​

​

​

 

[unmerged(23474)]

Avignon, Holy See of Avignon.

Friedrich von Wettin, the King of Sicily arrived in the town of Avignon after a week of sailing, and then docking and another day of travel by foot. He was tired, but he wouldn't let the Papacy see it. He wanted to seer into their minds the image of him as a powerful champion of the church. He was, after all, the senior heir of the legitimate Hohenstaufen legacy. While the Hohenstaufens and the Roman church often did not see eye to eye, this was the Avignon church, and they too had issues with Rome, and even with the Emperor. Who knew what would happen.

"I am Friedrich of the House of Wettin, By my own right as well as by the right of my wife, the fifth of my name to be King of Sicily. I have been summoned by His Holiness, Clement VII, formerly Robert, Count of Geneva of the proud House of Savoy."

When he saw the pope, he tried to be as diplomatic as he could, although he admittedly did not pay attention to such things when he was being taught as in his youth.

"Your Holiness, I have heard of the death of your cousin, the count of Savoy. I mourn his death as a Christian and as an admirer of his heroism. He was a brave and proud fighter for the cause of Louis d'Anjou, and I suppose for the cross as well."

 

[Blade!]

Cardinal Gautier Gómez, protector of SS. Giovanni e Paolo​

Prince Martin of Aragon's Quarters

Cardinal Gómez padded down the cold hall with some dismay. His slippered feet were growing less cozy every moment he spent in the damp monestary. A low ranking Bendictine monk hurridly escorted him to his destination.

Cardinal Gómez slapped open the wooden door and saw the man in the sackcloth kneeling in front of a cot.


"A sackcloth! A sackcloth!

Prince Martin! You are wearing a sackcloth."

He spoke this last sentence slowly as if talking to a mad man. His silken garments and bejeweled rings swirling about as his arms flailed in dismay.

"You simply bypassed de Luna and Archbishop Tenorio and ran straight to Avignon. To see a fellow Iberian dressed like this... ah truly your father must be mad if he saw you go about like this. I am afraid Aragon will never be ready to march against the forces of evil in Iberia.

Yet... it seems your maddened gambit has paid off, is it not so? Already people are talking in the streets of the peasants in Aragon speaking your name with favor. This is a risky time, do you know you are risking the stability of your nation... Aragon must be strong."

 

[von Streusser]

Prince Martin of Aragon's Quarters​

Martin, halfway through his prayers, was startled and annoyed to find this fat Cardinal bursting in his doorway unannounced. "Cardinal Gomez" he said, dryly and with obvious irritation "to what do I owe the pleasure..." The question was clearly not meant to be answered.

Despite his garment, Martin took control of the situation, starting with his own composure. He forced a smile, and indicated for the Cardinal to sit down on his cot. "Yes, as Your Illustirousness has so clearly pointed out, I am wearing a sackcloth. I am what I believe those of you close to the bosom of the Church would call 'a penitent man'. As the standard garment of such a penitent man, regardless of his station, is the sackcloth, wouldn't it make sense that I should wear one? Cardinal, surely you wouldn't have me quote scripture to you, would you? Then you must know the stories of penitent Kings in such garments. It is only fitting in the eyes of Christ and the eyes of our Mother Church." Martin felt like he was talking to a child. Where on earth did the Castillians find these fools to send to God's service?

"Of course I bypassed de Luna, Tenorio, and yourself, and came straight here...the Pope himself granted my family the Baleares, and the Pope's forces occupy them! The Pope holds one of my vassals, and shall decide the fate of the soul of my father for his sin! It is the Pope, not de Luna and not Tenorio, that can help me." Martin paced in front of the now seated Cardinal, who looked strikingly uncomfortable on the simple cot.

"Your Illustriousness talks to me of strength. Allow me to put it to you that to wear silks and jewels requires no strength at all, only the wherewithal to afford them. But to style oneself as humble, to dress in sackcloth when one could be wearing silks and jewels...that requires strength my dear Gomez." He thought for a moment that if he kept up this pace, he'd make himself vomit from the sheer tripe he was spouting. "Humility in the face of the Lord, that is true strength." It sounded like a Bible passage, and he hoped it was one.

"These are troubled times, you are right about that. And that is why I personally shall steer Aragon through them. Aragon, and all Iberia, shall know true strength...personified in me. And it shall be only a matter of time before that strength is felt on distant shores. Do not fear for Aragon or Iberia, gentle Cardinal. If you must fear for someone, fear for those who would oppose us." He realized that he had crept very close to Gomez's face as he had said this last part, and that the Cardinal looked almost threatened. Martin smiled, a sardonic little grin. "Trust me, Your Illustriousness."

 

[Blade!]

Cardinal Gautier Gómez, protector of SS. Giovanni e Paolo​

Prince Martin of Aragon's Quarters

Cardinal Gómez sat unhappily upon realizing that Prince Martin truly was mad. 'Mad as a mad Moor! He's spouting biblical pasages and all... at least I hope those are biblical pasages.' It had been several decades since the Cardinal's eyes had actually encountered the text of the gospels, church politics was more his suit.

He consoled himself with the idea that perhaps Prince Martin was less mad thanhis father, and at least mad in a way that benefited the church and Aragon.

"I see... well, at least your commitments are in the proper order of things. I can pull some strings... the circles of influence here are eager for a resolution of matters in the west. Perhaps if you volunteered to take Aragon's forces and encamp with King Juan on the Portuguese fronteer, the pope would indeed help encourage your ill father unto pilgrim ship and your eleder brother onto a more discrete path..."

The Cardinal played with his rings as he looked up at the ceiling and thought about what he could do.

"Perhaps... however, perhaps I might entreat you to give up this cell, and come to my estate. The prople will need to see you as capable of fulfilling the role of a Prince of the Church... ah, you have in good penance for sometime my son... perhaps a finer accomadation would allow you to make plans in a more effective manner. Perhaps send for some staff.

We will certainly have to engage some learned men and church scholars to find precedents and build a proper case."

 

[unmerged(18481)]

His Holiness and Prince Martin

"I pray for your wisdom, Your Holiness."

Clement was not entirely pleased: he listened to the Prince's speech with growing irritation, for he felt the Prince's eloquence and general well-spokenness overshadowed his own. And indeed; everybody in the hall watched very attentively the man in the slackcloth garment.

"Well, well, well, very well, we've heard enough," a jealous Pope said with a dismissive wave of hand. He paused for emphasis, then took a deep breath, again for emphasis. "We have announced in Our Bulle Judas Sold that the Kingdom of Mallorca has reverted back to Us because of the grave misdeeds of the person to whom Our predecessor of blessed memory, Benedict the Twelveth, once granted it in fief." He was speaking very solemnly, trying to imitate the Prince without much success. "We have also stated that We shall commence the search for the man We would crown King of Mallorca, a man who has the both the birthright and the virtue to be crowned. Numerous conceited men believed that they fulfill these criteria; and We have weighed all claims very carefully, discarding the rotten and keeping the good..."

He paused: he realized he was reluctant to let Mallorca go. For even though he had no specific fondness for that cluster of islands, he had rather much enjoyed playing God with their fate, he had enjoyed that people would beg and persuade him to decide this way or that way... Clement was reluctant to let the every-so-exciting feeling of being the final and decisive authority go.

"... and now Our very careful search is finally over," he said gravely. "Martin of Aragon," he finally adressed the Prince, his voice like thunder in the silence of the great consistorial hall, "We have, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, chosen you to come into the property that once was entrusted on your father who gained it rightfully then lost it because of his greed. We have, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, chosen you to become Our vassal as the King of Mallorca; to provide Us with counsel and princely service. Acceptasne officium?" Clement put forth the question, but immediately raised a hand, as if to withhold the Prince's answer.

"As for your father: We do not think a journey to Jerusalem a proper penitance at all. Many well-learned men question the beneficial result of the pilgrimages, and We tend to agree with them. Furthermore, We have already proclaimed in Our Bulle Judas Sold: 'Peter of Aragonia shall immediately take up arms against the heretic tyrant Charles of Durazzo. Should he go to war against the tyrant, he shall be absolved of his very great sin.' And finally, as for that John, the Duke of Teurel... His fate We shall decide in due time."

"And now, dear son," Clement smiled abruptly, "do you accept the crown?"

 

[von Streusser]

Prince Martin's Chambers​

"You may entreat to your heart's content...I will not leave. That is the point of this whole humility exercise, Your Illustriousness. Look" he said, growing gradually more frustrated with the Cardinal "just trust me, will you? Maybe I am mad after all...but just believe that there's some manner of method in it, would you?"

Audience with the Pope​

Martin sensed the growing hostility in the Holy Father, much to his surprise. It worried him...had he not been humble enough? Had he not appealed sufficiently to the man's vanity by doting on his wisdom? Surely he hadn't spoken too clearly...what manner of wretched insanity could so seize a man...

"And now, dear son," Clement smiled abruptly, "do you accept the crown?"

Martin thought for a long moment how best to respond. In the end, he elected a simple answer, in the hopes of not aggravating the situation any further. The question of Prince Juan had not been answered, nor had the question of Teurel, really. But those were problems best answered another day. Time to take what he had achieved and run.

"I accept, Your Holiness, and in my capacity as King of Mallorca shall serve you well and true, as best I can.

Aragon readies herself to serve and enforce your will. We have heard that the King of Portugal has married his Crown Princess off to a satanist, and await only your word to move against him and restore proper Christian order to his realm. And now this Charles of Durazzo...when Aragon marches against him, what would Your Holiness have us do to him? Deliver him unto you for proper penance? Turn his realm away from the Pretender in Rome and towards the True Pope, thus saving the souls of his many oppressed and misled subjects? Speak your will, and Aragon shall make it so as best we can."

Martin found himself holding his breath, hoping that he had spoken more plainly so as not irritate the man further, but expecting it couldn't be helped.

 

[Blade!]

Cardinal Gautier Gómez, protector of SS. Giovanni e Paolo​

Pope's Audiance Hall

Cardinal Gómez sat along the wall with others of his rank, watching the day's proceedings in general and in particular as well as the reason for his being there that day; Prince Martin's interview.

As normative, the rotund Cardinal played with his rings while noting the interview was not going perfectly. Prince Martin's humility and devotion to faith were alien to many in the room, who had been brought into their careers through connections and wealth as opposed to pious reverance.

'The Lord moves in mysterious ways, when those who want to be Kings come in sackclothes. I hope, at least, Clemant will take the groveling as directed towards himself.'

The Cardinal breathed a sigh of relief as Martin accepted the Pope's offer, knowing that the Balaeres would not be going to some mangy Italian, or worse a dirty Greek.

'Now, now Iberia was almost ready to be united and march in the name of Avignon, and clear the world of the Satan's heresy.'

War incidently, would probably not hurt the iron smeltery the Cardinal's illegitimate sons operated in Toledo.

 

[unmerged(18481)]

A more contented Clement leant back in his throne comfortably: he was beginning to come to like the situation. What more, now that he himself was in the centre of attention, he was growing fond of the Prince Martin as well.

"Our call for a crusade against the heretic tyrant Charles of Durazzo went largely unnoticed by the princes of the world," the Pope began, "they disregard the calling of the Holy Mother Church in favour of the call of their pitiful greed and petty bickerings... which makes us much worried for their eternal soul. Barely anybody has taken up the cross up to date, therefore launching a campaign right now would be rash, therefore folly." Clement, pleased to make such a logical and undebatable reasoning, smiled. "Thus we want you to wait; but we also charge you and your father to await our calling fully prepared."

"You ask about the aim of the crusade: it is, obviously, to bring our flock in Naples, currently suffering greatly under the yoke of the heretic tyrant, back onto the breast of Christ. Once the victory is achieved, the heir of our lamented daughter the Queen Jehanne, the Duke of Anjou whom we have crowned King of Naples, shall occupy his rightful throne. Then of course we..." Clement trailed off, pondering.

"Anyhow... We ourself wish to crown and anoint you King of Mallorca. The preparations for the ceremony shall begin as soon as humanly possible. We wish you to remain in Avignon for the time being, to get acquainted with your royal cousins, our beloved sons, the King of Naples and the... King of Sicily, both of whom we have summoned to here." Clement paused for a moment, watching Martin's face for his reaction. "You may leave now."

The day after a Papal encyclical was sent out:

In the name of the holy & indivisible Trinity, Father & Son & Holy Ghost. Amen.​

Clement, Bishop, Servant of the Servants of God; to his Venerable Brethren, the Patriarchs, the Primates, the Archbishops & the Bishops & the Ordinaries in Peace and Communion with the Apostolic See; & likewise to all the faithful believers in the One True Church, Universal & Apostolic, these chosen ones of God, who are subject to Us as to Peter, the one & only shepherd appointed by Christ to become the head of His mystical body: Greetings & Apostolic Benediction.

OUR SEARCH for the next King of Mallorca is finally over, this We announce with very great joy in Our heart; for it is not good for a Kingdom not to have a King, and the Kingdom of Mallorca had to suffer this miserable state of affairs ever since the King Peter, who once lawfully acquired it, lost it due to his known misdeeds more than a year ago. We were very careful in Our search, taking into account both a candidate's hereditary rights and -- more importantly -- his virtues as a Christian and as a ruler. We have listened to all claimants and We have consulted with numerous scholars and holy men, evaulating carefully all evidences and claims.

We have concluded, amongst other things, that our son the King Peter of Aragonia acquired the islands from his cousin, the King James of Mallorca, legally and lawfully, for that James was indeed Peter's vassal by law and custom; and the King Peter had all rights to revoke the fief of Mallorca when the said James ceased to perform his duties as a vassal; this very fact was indeed duly approved by Our predecessor of holy memory, Clement the Sixth.

Therefore the claim of Marquis Theodore of Montferrat We declare null and void; for even though he is indeed the primal heir of that James, his claim is invalid since the King James was stripped of his titles and possessions legally. And thus We herewith do charge, order and command our son the Marquis Theodore to peacefully leave the said islands at once, taking nothing with himself, admitting the invalidity of his claims We proved illegal above.

Considering the above, it is very clear indeed that the rightful heir of Mallorca must be found amongst the descendants of Peter of Aragonia; but the said Peter stripped himself and his successors of his rights of inheritance by his misdeeds that are well-known to all of you.

But when We were beginning to feel unable to solve this quest of Ours, the Lord God has come to Our aid; for the Prince Martin, junior son of the King Peter, driven by the Holy Spirit, has come to Us as a pilgrim, wearing a sackcloth garment. And he came to Us very much unlike the others, he came not to present his claims, he did not boast questionable virtues and dubious claims on the islands; rather, he came to defend his father, to beg for Our pardon. And as he spoke We marvelled at his wisdom, his austere lifestyle and his numerous other virtues. Immediately recognizing that this Prince Martin does, indeed, possess both the virtues and descence necessary to become King of Mallorca, We have offered him the crown, and though he initially refused, we finally managed to persuade him to accept the duty.

Let it be known to all of you that We shall crown Martin of Aragonia King of Mallorca by Our own hands in two weeks time. A sovereign ruler he shall be, vassal to no one but the Church, Universal and Apostolic. As such, he shall be named a Standard-Bearer of the Church.

And should the King Martin die without a male heir, his daughter shall inherit. And should he sire not even daughters, which God forbid, the Kingdom of Mallorca shall revert back onto the Universal and Apostolic Church.​

Given in Avignon, in the Year of the Incarnation of Our Lord MCCCLXXXIV, in the sixth year of Our Pontificate and fifth year of Our Exile.

Clemens PP. VII​

... and later in that day, the Prince Martin received a letter that contained the text of the oath he was supposed to make right after the coronation:

I, Martin, by the Grace of God King of Mallorca, from this hour forth shall be faithful to God, St. Peter, the Universal and Apostolic Church and to my Lord Pope Clement and all his successors elected and ordained in a proper manner. I shall not bring it about by deed, word, consent or counsel that they lose life or members or be taken captive; to the contrary, I shall prevent them being harmed, and I shall aid them to the best of my ability with kindly given advice and princely service. Any counsel which they entrust to me through themselves or through their envoys or through their letters, I will keep secret, nor will I knowingly disclose it to anyone to their harm. I shall aid to the best of my ability in holding and defending against all men the Patrimony of St. Peter, and I shall never cease to donate charitable gifts to the aforementioned Apostolic Church: namely, the aforementioned Apostolic Church shall receive yearly a hundred golden ducats, and more if my Lord the Pope wishes so. And I bind myself and my successors not to try to counter any of these things; and if I or anyone of my successors shall attempt this, whoever he be, he shall lose his rights to the Kingdom. So may God and these holy Gospels aid me.

OOC:
The encyclical and the oath together should be handled as a treaty.

Mechanical effects:
- Avignon transfers control over the Baleares to Aragon.
- Alliance: between the Avignon Papacy and Aragon (RP-wise: Mallorca).
- Loan pact: Aragon (Mallorca) is obliged to give a loan of 1 eco to the Avignon Papacy when asked.

Major RP effects:
- If King Martin dies without a heir, Aragon shall cede the Baleares to Avignon.​

 

[unmerged(18481)]

Avignon, the Holy See.

"Your Holiness, I have heard of the death of your cousin, the count of Savoy. I mourn his death as a Christian and as an admirer of his heroism. He was a brave and proud fighter for the cause of Louis d'Anjou, and I suppose for the cross as well."

"He was, he was, he was indeed," His Holiness replied, drawing an appropriately sad face. "We do mourn his loss, we do..."

Clemens Pappas Septimus trailed off as he kept measuring the Wettin with his eyes. A young man: Clement, well into his forties, saw him very young. Impatient, like all youngsters. Cocksure of himself, with just a small trace of childish uncertainity. And ambitious, way too ambitious. The Pope pursed his lips: Friedrich von Wettin somehow reminded him of his younger self. He could have been his son.

"He was a noble and pious man, may God rest his soul, we're sure the he's now His servant in heaven," Clement rattled off. "But let him rest in peace indeed, and let's discuss other topics instead." The Pope waved his attendants further away and somewhat condescendingly put his arm around the Wettin's shoulder, leading him through the corridors of the Palais des Papes. "Come, son, we've decided to hold a major feast in your honour. As a matter of fact," Clement continued, "we've also summoned our son the Duke of Anjou to come... so that the two of you, our two dear sons, could get acquainted and would eventually befriend each other, as it's appropriate for royal brothers, two Standard-Bearers of the Church." Clement smiled at the younger man. "I also wish you to befriend the Prince Martin of Aragon, future King of Mallorca, who's in our court at the moment."

The Pope and the King reached a smaller anteroom of the hall where the feast would commence. "Let's have some wine, son, merely to make digestion easier," Clement proposed. "By the way, you don't have to be so official," he smiled, noticing how stiffly the King sat. "Relax, son, relax."

He himself was obviously very much relaxed, leaning back in his chair, enjoying the wine. "Well then," he continued, his tone still unofficial, "in the crusade against the tyrant Charles of Durazzo we can count on you, the Duke of Anjou, the King of Mallorca, the King of Aragon, my brother, the Count of Genève, possibly the Count of Savoy... hopefully with the help of France and Castille." A grinning Pope rubbed his hands in satisfaction. "We're also planning to hire ships from some pesky Italian state for transport... in exchange for Durazzo and Corfu... and then everything is ready to launch the crusade, right? With the help of the Lord, we can't possibly lose!" His eyes glittering, the Pope raised his goblet upwards, as if thanking the God the help.

 

[unmerged(18481)]

Clement's eyes opened wide. His jaw dropped. After a terrible minute of silence he swiftly leant forward in his throne, so swiftly that the Papal tiara was in danger of falling off his head -- now that would have been quite good for the Roman propaganda!

"Who?!" the Pope yelled at the messenger. "Did what?! Elected who?!"

The messenger from Rome stoically cleared his throat and repeated: "... elected Philippe Cardinal d'Alenço--"

"Philippe d'Alençon?!

"...elected Philippe Cardinal d'A--"

"Philippe d'Alençon?!

"... elected Phi--"

"Philippe d'Alençon?!

"Yes," the messenger said drily. "May I continue?"

"The traitor!" Clement, beside himself, screamed. "The filthy bitch of a prelate! The wretched traitor! The dog that sold his soul to the English King! He betrayed his own kind! His own King! His own cousin! And now he goes on to make himself a Pope?!"

"... who chose to be known as 'Gregory the Twelveth'," the messenger decided to finish the message anyhow, disregarding Clement's fits of rage -- for the Pope-in-Exile was outraged indeed: he was pacing back and forth before his throne like a bear in the cage.

"Gregory?!" Clement cried out, on the brink of sobbing. "For God's sake, Gregory?! By the Holy Ghost, this pig has no decency whatsoever?!"

And while Clemens Pappas Septimus indulged in rage, Jean Cardinal de la Grange bit his lip. His glance searched for Bohier's, but he could not see the French prelate anywhere. Jean Cardinal de la Grange bit his lip: he understood the intentions of the Roman 'cardinals' perfectly: they were doing a risky business, but it might as well work, and then... De la Grange wondered if there was any unrest in the Papal States; and if there wasn't, why. What was d'Alençon's trick? Six years ago the Roman mob besieged the Vatican merely because of the possibility that the cardinals might elect a Frenchman, and now they suddenly cheer and applaud when a cousin of the French King is elected? What kind of speciality Philippe d'Alençon had?

The Philippe d'Alençon de la Grange remembered had nothing special in him. Made Bishop of Beauvais then Archbishop of Rouen by his very brother (...poor Charles, poor Charles, it's good he did not live long enough to see this...), de la Grange could not remember anything that would have made him stand out of the large and ever-growing crowd of the relatives of the King. Well, there was that shady business about his inheritance... and rumours about his collaboration with the Englishmen which, in the light of the recent events, were probably true... but Philippe d'Alençon never did impress de la Grange -- at least until he accepted the cardinal's hat from Urban. Then de la Grange began to hate him indeed, he even made him worried... de la Grange remembered, they exchanged a couple of letters, but with no avail... But then he actually did nothing worrysome, so de la Grange almost forgot about d'Alençon's very existence until... Until they made him their Pope.

De la Grange's throat constricted with a spasm of despair: discord within France! De la Grange went pale: enmity between the descendants of Charles de Valois!

"I declare him cut off, cast out, torn out, torn off, cast out from the body of Christ, I do!" the raging Clemens Pappas Septimus yelled, forgetting even to use the royal plural.

De la Grange, suddenly calm again, knit his brows, shook his head slightly, and then almost put his hand on Clement's wide, soft, fat shoulder to whisper a proposal to him, something that would include some sort of negotiation, not outright enmity... but he simply could not think of any such thing. And that was the moment Jean Cardinal de la Grange really started to despair.

In the name of the holy & indivisible Trinity, Father & Son & Holy Ghost. Amen.​

Clement, Bishop, Servant of the Servants of God; to his Venerable Brethren, the Patriarchs, the Primates, the Archbishops & the Bishops & the Ordinaries in Peace and Communion with the Apostolic See; & likewise to all the faithful believers in the One True Church, Universal & Apostolic, these chosen ones of God, who are subject to Us as to Peter, the one & only shepherd appointed by Christ to become the head of His mystical body; and especially to Our astrayed brother, Philip, of the House of Alençon: Greetings & Apostolic Benediction.

PHILIP, ONCE BELOVED BROTHER in Christ, of all the injuries inflicted upon the Lord God and his Mystical Body by their prosecutors and enemies, the most painful for Us were the wounds made by you. For We hear you now call yourself Bishop of Rome, assuming the name 'Gregory', this way abusing and berating the name of Our predecessor of holy memory, Gregory the Eleventh, who was Our master and fatherly friend. And not only that: if only you and your fellow schismatics, these false cardinals created by the schismatic usurper Bartholomew Prignano, had any care for the fate of the Church, Universal and Apostolic, you would have notified Us right after the death of that Prignano. For then We could have followed the advice of the learned scholars of the University of Paris, and We would have considered to peacefully abdicate, to let the cardinals of both obeidences gather together to elect the Bishop of Rome who would have been accepted by the entire Christianity, for the greater glory of God.

But you, Philip of the House of Alençon, and your schismatic fellows, you care not for the fate of the Christendom, you care not for the glory of God, you care only for your own benefit. You decided to get elected with a demonic speed, leaving no time for negotiations, this way proving that you are indeed guilty of the excommunicating sin of schism.

Therefore We wish it to be known to all of you, beloved children and venerable brethren, that the usurper Philippe of Alençon and his household, having by their own deeds been excommunicated, are herewith declared by Us the enemies of God and the Holy Church. We herewith declare them cursed, condemned, cast out, cut off from the Mystical Body of Christ, out of which there is no salvation. And for most severe crimes against the humanity and the Church, We declare the said Philippe of Alençon deposed of his offices, stripped of any and all rights of inheritance, stripped of his titles and dispossessed of his properties: the estates formerly owned by the said Philippe of Alençon shall be given to Our beloved son, the Count Pierre of Alençon. And We absolve his former subjects from any and oaths of obedience to him, and on the pain of excommunication We forbid all Christians from serving or obeying him in any way. He and his household shall be given no shelter, nor food, he shall not be protected nor defended by the laws of men and God.

Moreover, even though the interdict laid on the city of Rome and the territories of the Patrimony of St. Peter in rebellion against Us expired with the death of the usurper Bartholomew Prignano, this command of interdict shall be renewed by Us: so long as the usurper Philip of Alençon, schismatic and heretic, is in power in the aforesaid territories, all ecclesiastical courts and all churches there shall be closed, no Masses shall be celebrated, no confessions shall be heard, all sacraments, except the last rite, shall be withheld.

Moreover, let it be known that all the clergy and laity who dares to ignore these commands of Ours shall be ipso facto excommunicated.

Furthermore, herewith We command all the former subjects of that Philip of Alençon to rise up against the usurper. Any city that resists the yoke of the schismatic shall be forgiven by Us for its former crimes; and any city that tears down the banners of the usurper shall be given by Us the status of a Free City.

And We also call Our venerable brethren, the prelates in the service of the usurper, to come to Us in a properly servile and humble manner, begging for Our forgiveness, and We promise they shall be forgiven by Us.​

Given in Avignon, in the Year of the Incarnation of Our Lord MCCCLXXXIV, in the sixth year of Our Pontificate and fifth year of Our Exile.

Clemens PP. VII



​

 

[Hawkeye1489]

GREGORIUS DUODECIMUS, EPISCOPUS, SERVUS SERVORIUM DEI, IUNCTUM CUM CHRISTI

UNTO HIS FORMER EMINENCE, ROBERT OF GENEVA, THE EXCOMMUNICANT-BISHOP OF AVIGNON​

IT IS WITH INTEREST THAT I RECEIVED YOUR LAST 'ENCYCLICAL'.

I, GREGORY XII, SUPREME PONTIFF OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH, WRITE TO INFORM YOU OF CERTAIN ITEMS. THE FIRST OF WHICH IS MY SELECTION AS THE 203D HOLY FATHER. I WAS INFORMED THAT I WAS SELECTED TO LEAD THE CATHOLIC CHURCH BECAUSE I REPRESENTED THE BEST WAY TO END THE SCHISM. I INVOKE OUR POPE OF BLESSED MEMORY, GREGORY XI, AS A SIGN OF MY WILLINGNESS TO END THIS SCHISM WHICH DIVIDES THE BODY OF CHRIST INTO TWO FACTIONS.

I ALSO WRITE TO INFORM YOU THAT I AM WILLING TO END THIS SCHISM ONCE AND FOR ALL. I AM BEING TRANSPORTED TO BARCELONA, IN ARAGONIA, FOR A COUNCIL ON THE SCHISM AND HOPE YOU SHALL ARRIVE TO END THIS DREADFUL MARK IN CHRISTENDOM. I SWEAR TO YOU NOW, THAT IF IT IS SO AGREED, I WILL GIVE UP THE TIARA IN FAVOR OF A NUMBER OF OPTIONS.

THIS IS MY FIRST PROPOSAL:

WE BOTH MUTUALLY ABDICATE OUR PAPAL THRONES. A NEW COLLEGE OF CARDINALS, SELECTED FROM BOTH FACTIONS, AND CONSISTING OF 15 ROMAN CARDINALS AND 15 AVIGNONESE CARDINALS MEET IN THE BASILLICA OF SAINT PETER, UNDER THE RULES OF CONCLAVE, AND ELECT A NEW SUPREME PONTIFF.

WE HOPE AND PRAY THAT THIS DIVISION IN CHRISTENDOM CAN BE ENDED, AND AWAIT YOUR ARRIVAL IN BARCELONA.

INDICIUM ROMAE, ANNO DOMINI MCCCLXXXIV, ANNUS SUUS GLORIFICUS PONTIFICATE

 

[Hawkeye1489]

An elderly Italian monk, with loyalties to Rome, came wandering through the streets of Avignon. Once the Holy City of the Papacy, it was now occupied by a pretender to the Throne of Saint Peter. Monk stepped into the Palace of the Bishop of Avignon, and asked for Cardinal de la Grange. When the letter was safely in the hands of the Cardinal of Avignon, the monk left, just as silently as he had come. Inside the letter, bearing the new seal of Pope Gregory XII, was very important information concerning the schism.

GREGORIUS DUODECIMUS, EPISCOPUS, SERVUS SERVORIUM DEI,

UNTO HIS EMINENCE, JEAN CARDINAL DE LA GRANGE, BISHOP OF FRASCATI​

YOUR LETTER WAS RECEIVED WITH GREAT JOY AND UNDERSTANDING. THE COUNCIL, ALTHOUGH NOT ECUMENICAL, WAS NOT CALLED BY ME, NOR I BELIEVE BY THE BISHOP OF AVIGNON, BUT BY THE KING OF CASTILE Y LEON. I BELIEVE THAT THE CONDITIONS LAYED OUT IN YOU LAST LETTER CAN BE OBSERVED. I AGREE THAT ECUMENICAL COUNCILS CAN ONLY LEAD TO DANGEROUS ROADS. IF A LIST OF THOSE TEN CARDINALS CAN BE PROVIDED, OUR SCHOLARS CAN VERIFY THEM AND THE SCHISM CAN END. PERHAPS THE CITY OF PISA, A CITY WHICH IS OF HALF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ROMA AND AVIGNON, FOR THE CITY WERE UPON THESE TEN CARDINALS CAN MEET TO ELECT THE ONE SUPREME PONTIFF OF THE ENTIRETY OF CHRISTENDOM. I LOOKED FORWARD TO ENDING THIS UGLY MARK IN CHRIST'S HISTORY.

INDICIUM SARDINIA, ANNO DOMINI MCCCLXXXIV, PRIMUS ANNUS SUUS GLORIFICUS PONTIFICATE

 

[unmerged(23474)]

Avignon, Holy See of Avignon.

As he walked with the pontiff, his tone became slightly more cordial.

"Well, Your Holiness, Where Sicily goes, so also go tens of thousands of Imperial Germans who remain in her service. Surely, the father must be smiling on us as you say, for the antipope Nicholas has died on the eve of our crusade. What more of a clear sign could the father send? Perhaps the grail, but Rome itself is a prize that few other things could be said to equal."

When they rested, he brought up another topic.

"It has come to my attention, Your Holiness, that Durazzo has offered a military pact to Sicily in exchange for recognition of my claims on the throne of Jerusalem. I know you recognize the Cypriot claim, so I do not expect your support in that matter, but I do find it necessary to inform you of Durazzo's schemes. Some in Palermo even claim that Mohammedan states are held in high regard in the excommunicant's court. I know not what to expect, other than complete victory."