Ducal Court of Gelre

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After listening to the regent, Johann looked at him quizzically and spoke. "The Directorate? Are they involved in the rebellion? The Queens announcement spoke of the regicides Count Charles of Nevers, Jean d’Artois and some jew posing as Philippe de Berry. If the Directorate is somehow involved in this it might put things in a different light. But is there any proof of this?"

 

[Lord E]

Gelre, in private

The Dauphin listened careful, smiled to Johann and then spoke

“A pleasure to meet Your Grace Johann!

As for your Grace’s question I can inform Your Grace that there is very much pointing in the direction of the Directorie being involved. Because such an enterprise as this rebellion could never start in Lotharingia without at least some of the Lord knowing about it and maybe even supporting it!
But as you say it seems Her Majesty are not aware of such information, or have seen any thing that have made Her Majesty consider to wage full open war on the Directorie, after all Your Grace remember is Her Majesty want the throne for Her Daughter Her Majesty would need the support of the Directorie and therefore I very much doubt she would go to open war against the people she need the support of later on!

Your Grace Casmir I thank you for the kind words towards my father and I can assure your Grace that He is very much in a good position to act, and I am sure he will do it as well!”

 

[Longinus]

Casmir smiled honestly at the young frenchmen who seemed quite a decent gentleman.

"It's certianly good to hear that Your Grace's father cares for the wellbeing of the rightful gueen."

He turns to the rest of present gentlemen.

"Anyway, we have prepared a certain document, a joint declaration of support of Queen Marie and her mother, my sister, Anna. Please take a look gentlemen, comment on it.

We intend to send it to all Kings and Princes of Europe praying that they support our case."

Casmir enrolls a preachment, which reads.

Proclamation of Zupten​

We, the undersigned proclaim the following.

That we greatly despise the regicides and rebels who rose against their most rightful King and Queen, acting against their will and the will of Almighty God who put the Royalty on the throne to take care of his sheep. Truly there is no excuse for those who act against the will of their God.

That we hold in highest disregard those who provoked this shameful act and will never let them into our lands, and should they tresspass our lands they shall be hunted down as the worst criminals and eventually find their death through humiliation and strangulation.

That we support the only and true Queen and Duchesse, that is Marie II du Berry, daughter of the late King Louis du Berry and Queen Anna du Griffon.

That we call upon all nobles, burghers and peasants of Lotharingia who foolishly followed the regicides or were fooled by them, to renounce any ties to them, if they have any, with the devilish imposter and murderer styling himself as Philippe du Berry. Should you not do so, not only hellfire awaits you in the miserable afterlife, but also your lands will be treated with fire and sword, until such time comes that the rightful Queen shall be restored to her throne. Those who hesitated before, raise your arms against the usurper and beg your rightful Queen for forgiveness. Those how will do so shall undoubtedly meet their rewards both in the mundane and after lives.

Signed on this 28th day of February in the Year of Our Lord MCDLIV in Zupten, on the Saints Romanus and Lupicinus day, God Almighty be our witness.​

​

 

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Johann nodded after listening to The Dauphin. "I hope You will forgive me my limited knowledge about lotharingian power struggles Your Grace. If this is the case then I do believe that the Queens view is more important than ever however. We must act with care less we force her into a corner she cannot come out from."

"As far as the stability of the realm goes, I do not believe there is any grave danger to their other neighbours at the moment. Surely the rebels must realize that a coalition against them will only grow larger if they show ambitions of conquest. At the moment it seems like the various factions are tied up fighting internally anyway."

After listening to Casimir, Johann smiled. "This is a good proclamation, and the cause it represents true and just. Brandenburg shall have no trouble signing it. And in good company too I might add, if the others present sign as well."

 

[Elias Tarfarius]

Meanwhile in the Hall

What is taking them so long? Why have we not been invited to this conversation!?

Duke Levi looked at the English and Iberian prince for answer. He had been pacing up and down for the better part of an hour now and his legs where about to give out. So the Duke sat down, wondering what on earth could be so important to keep them. There was a coronation to be done, for God's sake. It could only be the matter of Lotharingia that as so important. Levi leaned back, suspose he would have yet more time to wait. "This young prince of Gelre most likely wishes to take advantage of the confusion in order to gain the Low Counties in one swoop!" The Duke chuckled as the thought came to mind... but perhaps it was not so crazy. What army would stop him? There was no army in Burgundy, just bands of rival rebels. There was no Emperor to stop him and English appeared as if they would not intervene. If he could get the Pommerians and the French to support him, it would be done and the whole of the Low Countries would be Gelre's! "Not if I have a say in the matter,' Levi said under his breath. He was the great-great-great-grandson of the old master of Holland and Hennegau (among other lands), the Emperor Louis IV or Ludwig VI as he was called in Bavaria. "As fine a claim as any, with a few false documents to give it more weight." This trip to Gelre was becoming a better idea by the minute and who could tell what might come of it in the end.

 

[I Killed Kenny]

Estevão looks puzzeled for that man talking with him like that, who he thought he was, well it did not matter he was gooing to speak with him​

"Good day Sir, may I ask who you are?" he puts his hand foward to shake his with the ones of the other 'guy' "I did not have the pleasure to know with who I was meeting, besides the future Duke of Gelre."

 

[Elias Tarfarius]

The Duke looked surprised at the Iberian's question, thinking that someone surely must have mentioned the presence of a princes as great as he.

Herr Duarte, I am Levi von Wettelsbach, Duke of Bayern-Ansbach and first Duke of Bayern-Tyrol, brother of the former Duke, Albrecht. It is a pleasure to meet a prince of the noble Portugese house, those glorious explorers of the Dark south lands. Shall you follow in that line of work, Herr Duarte? I find it most interest, but not a thing for all men. I myself cannot fathom, no pun intended, going beyond traveling on rivers and calm coastline. The very prospect of rough and unknown seas would make me sicker than a dog. I am sure that is not true for a man of your blood though.

*sighs* How long will they stay in that room plotting whatever they are plotting. I tell you something, we shall have to watch this Jan as a Duke. I think he seeks a great coup to make Gelre overlord of the Low Countries. Can you imagine the riches of these lands in the hands of one prince? Would you want to imagine such thing? What a boon! But I hold off... I'm sure Jan shall be a good and wise prince, it is just the length of their private conference whihc makes me think ill thoughts.

 

[I Killed Kenny]

Estevão lisens to all the duke have to say noding and smiling​

When the duke finished he replies "I did not know the duke of Bavaria Died. Your brother was a great man, he was the one who won Tirol am I right? It's sad that he tried to do what he did in the Holy City of Rome, must sad. But it is a pleasure to me also, to know an imperial prince from a great duchy that Bavaria is" he rests a little and continues "And I will not continue to same line of my father. I love the sea and everything she gives to Portugal but I am not a man of the sea. I am a man of the court, a noble, not a sailor. I shall soon be the next Duke of Coimbra I am in France to learn more about that. Maybe one time I shall go to Bavaria to know your lands!" he rests to put his thougths in order.
"About the Lowlands. To Portugal it don't really matter to runs the lowlands. We just want to have good friendlly and profitable relations here, nothing more. But we are sure that a kingdom so powerfull as Lotharingia is a bad thing, to much power in the hand of someone is bad. And even more Lotharingia who is not exaclly a very "tradefull" nation.
And to many lords in a private conference with princes like us here waiting is not good, yes."

 

[Elias Tarfarius]

Levi thought on Duarte's words...

Indeed! Yet, would not the Low Countries combined be a powerful commercial nation?

I thank you for the condolenses...

"If he only knew that the fool is not dead but lives and has escaped to heaven knows where," the Duke said to himself.

You must come and see Bavaria. I think it is the most beautiful land in all the Empire. You shall stay as my guest as my Tyrolean castle. There is much space there, as I have yet to take up the burden of a wife, though I soon may...

"If those schemers in the room ever stop plotting so I can endear myself to Jan and his lately widowed sister," he thought impatiently.

It would be an utmost pleasure to entertain your future Grace. *smiles*

 

[I Killed Kenny]

Estevão smiles to the man after receiveing that invitation​

"Yes the lowlands would be a great trading nation. And that is what we want. We want trade. We need a new place to sell the many goods Black Africa give to us." passing to an other issue, "And I should be out of Portugal for Three years before I am giving the Ducal title of Coimbra. So next year or in the year after the next I may go to Bavaria. I have many time."

 

[Lord E]

Gelre, in private

Charles smiles at Duke Casmir.

“Indeed Your Grace I have great faith in my father, and I am confident that he will handle this in such a way at the matter needs to be handled in!

As for the document I believe it is fine, but I feel that with so many other nobles of Europe present maybe we should rejoin them and see if we are able to get all of them to agree to it as well? I am sure the guests are waiting for the host to return.”

 

[Longinus]

Casmir returns the smile and looks at Duke Jan.

"Well, Your Graces, we spent a lot of time here. I think the Doulphain is right, we should meet with others and let our host to perform his duties toward them.

We will show our proclamation to others."

It would appear that Jan had nothing more to say ebem though he had enough time to voice his opinion.

*****​

Sometime later Casmir speaks with others.

"Most Noble Graces,

We are all most troubled with the affairs in Burgundy. That is why we have prepared a certain ducument which would show the Rebels the support the Royal Houses of Europe give the rightful line in Lotharingia.

Please take a look gentlemen."

He enrolls the preachemnt.

Proclamation of Zupten​

We, the undersigned proclaim the following.

That we greatly despise the regicides and rebels who rose against their most rightful King and Queen, acting against their will and the will of Almighty God who put the Royalty on the throne to take care of his sheep. Truly there is no excuse for those who act against the will of their God.

That we hold in highest disregard those who provoked this shameful act and will never let them into our lands, and should they tresspass our lands they shall be hunted down as the worst criminals and eventually find their death through humiliation and strangulation.

That we support the only and true Queen and Duchesse, that is Marie II du Berry, daughter of the late King Louis du Berry and Queen Anna du Griffon.

That we call upon all nobles, burghers and peasants of Lotharingia who foolishly followed the regicides or were fooled by them, to renounce any ties to them, if they have any, with the devilish imposter and murderer styling himself as Philippe du Berry. Should you not do so, not only hellfire awaits you in the miserable afterlife, but also your lands will be treated with fire and sword, until such time comes that the rightful Queen shall be restored to her throne. Those who hesitated before, raise your arms against the usurper and beg your rightful Queen for forgiveness. Those how will do so shall undoubtedly meet their rewards both in the mundane and after lives.

Signed on this 28th day of February in the Year of Our Lord MCDLIV in Zupten, on the Saints Romanus and Lupicinus day, God Almighty be our witness.​

​

 

[I Killed Kenny]

Estevão was happy seeing that the private meeting finally ended. He was even happier seeing the Duke of Pommrania himself adressing them all. He lisens to the proclamation carefully word by word.​

After hearing the proclamation Estevão speaks to Casimir "Good day noble Casimir, Duke of Pomnrania and many other lands. If I may present my self I am Estevão, heir to the ducal title of Coimbra, envoy from João king of Portugal and son of Infant D. Enrique, the Navigator, I was informed that you once meet with my father. I hope I can meet you as well as my father did, if possible even better." he smiles to Casimir and then continues "But passing to the matters at hand, I would like to ask your highness who seem to speak for the other nobles of the secret meeting. If we sign that, what do your highness expect from us?"

 

[Longinus]

Casmir seems confused a bit, he looks at his mother uncertain. Finally he replies smiling at Portugese.

"Greetings, sir Estevão, it brings a lot of joy to my heart to see someone from Portugal, the lands where I lived for so long."

He bows sligtly.

"As for this ducument, well, this is just a proclamation, it's aim is to make the rebels realise that their actions are despised by many.

This proclamation is to bring Noble Houses of all Europe together, despite their quarrels and fights..."

Christine continiues after him.

"This document is to show that nobles support one another in such dire times. And what to expect? Well, I pray that diplomatic pressure, even though our advisors speak otherwise, will be enough to put the Burgundian rebellion down."

 

[I Killed Kenny]

Estevão replies back​

Looking to Christine "I am sure Portugal will support such proclamation, but the problem right now is that Portugal is already in a very dificult position to act in Europe because we have other quarrels and fights, this is not against other Christians, this is against Enemies of faith who want to obliterate our way of living" He rests for a moment he now looks to Casimir, who loved Portugal so much "Portugal and Castille are fighting for that as we speak, Castille more than Portugal it's true, but as soon as the Rebels of Iberia are down Portugal shall not stand still if the war still rages in the Med!" He rests fora moment to put in order his thoughts "I can only hope a war in the Lotharingian lands do not compromise The Christians in Iberia!"

 

[Longinus]

Christine smiles at Estevão.

"Well, we don't ask for monies or troops, all we ask for is the political support, to show that the noble Houses of Europe stand united against the rebels and usurpers.

 

[I Killed Kenny]

Estevão then smiles back to Cristine​

"Political Support your cause shall have for sure. And thank you for chooing that your excelencies to not ask for troop or money, because that is not what Portugal have the much. And I and everyone in Portugal hate usurpers and rebels, we had our share of rebels and usurpers four years ago. Where can I sign , in the name of King João of Portugal such proclamation?"

 

[Longinus]

Casmir frowned when Estevão said about the rebels in Portugal.

"Dear sire, I don't..."

Christine interrupted him. "Casmir, my dear, please..." and she turned to Estevão.

"Well, Your Grace, if you have such power, to act in the name of your King, by all means we will welcome your support."

 

[HJ Tulp]

After signing the proclamation Jan walks to Casimir.

"Your Grace, maybe one day you will become aware of the fact of which my nation has been aware for decades, Burgundy is a abstract monster and like all beasts it's at it's dangerousts when it's hurt."

After that Jan walks to the Bavarian Duke.

"Your Grace, I thought you would like to speak with me in private? Shall we go to my study room?"

 

[Longinus]

Casmir smiles at Jan, and nods greacefully.

"I believe that all monsters can be tamed, we won't find out if we don't try, do we?"

Christine adds.

"Thank for the support of Your Grace, I am sure that Both of our Houses will be victorious and stronger after this sorrowful conflict."