Ducal Court of Gelre

[I Killed Kenny]

Estevão speaks​

He firsts speak too Casimir "Yes your highness?" And then he looked back to Cristine "Maybe everyone present here should sign the proclamation as a gesture of their support. I am sure the name of your excelencies all thoughther shall put fear of in the heart of any Rebel leader."
He then turns to the Heir of Gelre and speaks "Your excelency, already leaving? I did not even the pleasure to meet you!"

 

[HJ Tulp]

"Your Grace, it is in our experience that monsters often have to be killed. However I accept your challenge to tame this beast. We might have to castrate it though hehe."

The Heir turned to Christine and said "Your Grace, I am not only sure, I am totally convinced that our Houses will become stronger and victorious, as we allways have."

Jan turned again to the Protuguese.

"My apologies your Grace, I allready wondered when the Portoguese Kingdom would honour us with it's attendance. How was your trip?"

 

[Elias Tarfarius]

The Duke leapt from his seat when the Regent finally emerged from his meeting. He could finally get to his matter of business, his main reason for being here instead of his brother or some random noble.

I would indeed like to speak to your Grace privately, Herr Regent, thank you.

Once within the confines of the study...

As I mentioned before, I wished to discuss your Grace's sister and perhaps the matter of matrimony. I am getting no younger but my years have been filled with work and building up my estate. Only now I have been able to bring my attention to the search for a wife. This is when I heard of your sister, recently widowed by the evil doings in Ragusa. I also heard of her beauty and charming manner. That was why I leapt at the chance to come here for the coronation, not only to honor your Grace but also to make her aquaintance if possible. I have marriage as the object... I fear not, I am secure in my estates. In fact, I own more than half of Bavaria. What do you say to my offer and when may I see the dear lady?

 

[I Killed Kenny]

"Your Grace, it is in our experience that monsters often have to be killed. However I accept your challenge to tame this beast. We might have to castrate it though hehe."

The Heir turned to Christine and said "Your Grace, I am not only sure, I am totally convinced that our Houses will become stronger and victorious, as we allways have."

Jan turned again to the Protuguese.

"My apologies your Grace, I allready wondered when the Portoguese Kingdom would honour us with it's attendance. How was your trip?"

Before the future duke enters in the private chambers Estevão speaks​

"Your grace, I can wait for the honor of speaking with yourself, because our conversation needs to be about more than just small chat, we need to speak about trade, something that we both know may take some time..."
Estevão then look to the other people and says, "May I have the honor of writing my name on the proclamation?"
He then writes
"Estevão Duarte, heir to the Ducal title of Coimbra, in the name of El-Rei Dom João Duarte the second of Portugal and the Algarves, King of Far and Near sea in Africa."

 

[unmerged(945)]

Johann signed the proclamation, and then turned to Casimir.

"So much formalities and politics to adress. But perhaps it is time for some pleasantries as well. If Your Majesty has the time, perhaps we could head out into the countryside for some riding tomorrow? Get to know eachother as nephew and uncle, and not just Dukes and Kings."

 

[Petrarca]

Instead of Jan, who was talking with the Brandenburger Duke, or Link who was.....well that's private, his brother Hendrik was the first to welcome the Bohemian Wittelsbachs.

He was, though younger, larger and more muscular then his brother. Unlike his brother, who was in essence a man of words, he was a man of war.

"Miladies, welcome to Gelre, I am Grand Governor Hendrik van Egmondt of Dobrudja, would you allow me to escort you to the ballroom?"

After they had taken their leave of the stout Governor in order to rest, the two Wittelsbach ladies returned and sought him out via courtiers. Upon his return, Johanna commented, "Your Lordship, we would be most pleased to have such an esteemed escort. The people here are foreign to us, as well, so any introductions would be most welcome."

Nathalie hastily added on to her sister's words: "My Lord, I am Nathalie von Wittelsbach, and this is my sister, Johanna. We apologize for not introducing ourselves earlier, but the journey was so long and tiring. So many days in the carriage... surely you understand."

The pair of sisters curtseyed and smiled. Ladislav had given them nothing, so the only things they had left were their natural gifts. Begging upon a lord's chivalry was one of them.

Behind them followed a few chamberlains and a single priest, his cassock trimmed in scarlet. The cleric adjusted his biretta and took in the surroundings without a word.

 

[HJ Tulp]

Hendrik made a bow to the two princesses. He might be a soldier but he had also been raised as the son of a Duke.

"Your Highnesses, you do not ever have to apologise to me for I am just loyal servant. Now with your permission." Hendrik said and he guided the two princesses to the Ballroom.

Arriving at the ballroom Hendrik introduced them to the other guests.

"That's my brother Jan there," gesturing towards the Regent "next to him stand Duke Johann of Brandenburg, Duke Casimir of Pommern, next to them stand the Bavarian and Portoguese emmisaries, both Dukes." Then gesturing to others in the room.

"There stand Christine von Wittelsbach, obviously a family member of your Highnesses, she is also the mother of Duke Casimir of the Greif. Then there is Her Grace Dorothea von Hollenzorn from Brandenburg, daughter of Duke Johann and last but certainly not the least, Commander Link van Oldenzaal, Commander of the Guards of Link and Baron van Oldenzaal and some Swedish county I can't pronounce the name of." gesturing to the young and hansome Commander.

Then Hendrik said out loud sothat the whole room could hear him:


"Milords, miladies, Her Highnesses Johanna and Nathalie von Wittelsbach, Princesses of Bohemia."

 

[HJ Tulp]

In the Studyroom.


Jan walked to the window. He looked outside were he saw two children play. Then he turned.

"Your Grace, when my dear sister married the Duke of Ragusa she gained a certain amount of autonomy. Espacially after the events in Ragusa I can't force her to do anything. However, I might be able to influence her. Now, you are a ambitious man isn't it? I could support you in Bavaria, however, what can you offer? I have to think of my House you see..."

 

[Elias Tarfarius]

"You have no heirs, you dunce," Levi said to himself but tried not to reveal the smile that it caused.

Vice versa, I offer Gelre the power of Bavaria behide it. I am not the only man with ambitions in this room, no? *alughs* I surmised what you may have been discussing here previously. I am sure the topic of the Low Countries in the hands of the League of Arras came up a few times. My great ancestor, the Emperor Ludwig... or rather Louis in the more Frankish tongue, was master of those lands, but through our very divided inheritances it fell out of Bavarian hands. We should join our claims as one, yes? Now, I also speak for myself in this and not the Duchess-Regent, but half the Duchy is mine and I plan to guide Ulrich on the path to right rule from now on. Imagine it, Gelre increased many times over and with no one to stand in your way. England, Portugal, Pommern, even France support you. All you need is enough force to defeat the League of Arras and I can give you the numbers, at least 10,000 and I can raise more! As we speak, the armies of the pretender are most likely heading south to attack Queen Anna. Its perfect timing. I'll just ship my men down the river by barge from Baden or Mainz and in coup it will all be ours. Does this not fit your plans for the Low Countries? If not, forget I mentioned it. When shall I be able to meet your sister? *smiles*

 

[HJ Tulp]

When the Bavarain had finished Jan thought for a few moments. Then he spoke.

"Your Grace, you are right, you are not the only one in this room with ambitions. I share the same ambition as my father had, and his father, the ambition of the House van Egmond. If you would make me the......protector of your claim then I think we will be able to get the Lowlands. However at this moment we can't use your troops, the logistal system is not good enough to support another thenthousand soldiers. However, if I may, it would be wise to use your forces as reserve here in Gelre incase something drastic happens. Now about my sister. You'll meet her at the coronation tommorrow but as I said I can't force her to do anything, however my sister is a Van Egmond. She understands the cause of our House. What if I send her to your estates because of the dangers here? The two of you could become more aquainted with eachother and after the conflict the wedding could take place."

 

[Elias Tarfarius]

The Duke meerly nodded in approval as the Regent spoke. He stared at Jan for a moment and then clapped his hands together in approval.

You already understand well the nature of war, your Grace. Keeping my troops here a reserve sounds most wise to my ear, unless circumstances change in somewat requiring more force against the League of Arras, if they are victorious in the south, perchance.

As to your sister, I have no doubt that she is a woman of free mind, which all the more makes me wish to see her. I cannot wait until tomorrow. It shall be a glorious day... I can feel it.

 

[Elias Tarfarius]

The Enterprise of Ireland - A Gelre Bargain

To Zutphen marched the Bavarian party in all of its glory. The guardians of the gate had been suspicious of the group's intentions and their twelve "hay" wagons, so only Herrs Mantel and von Danuben along with a guard of fifty knights ended up entering the city. They were search for the one man that could solve their problem of transport to Ireland. The party could not afford to wait for the merchants of Low Countries to lease their ships at a reasonable price (if that would ever happen), especially if those merchants were waiting upon the outcome of the second great civil war. So Herr Mantel set out to find Hendrik von Egmond, leader of Gelre's army and master of its grand navy/merchant marine. He would have the last word on if any of Gelre's hundreds of vessels could be used. The question was what could Mantel give him in return? Perhaps the service of his band after the Irish venture or perhaps some cut of the loot thereof? It would be sorted it out in the negociations. Herr Mantel and his companions tracked down the Egmond prince to a grand house by the dockside where he was finishing having a meeting with the city's greatest merchants.

Hail, Herr Hendrik von Egmond! *dismounts* You know me not, but I am a most humble of the Duke of Bavaria, sent on a mission by her Grace, the Regent Elisabeth, to Ireland. It is on a matter of ships we must speak with all urgency if you do not mind... ships enough for 1,200 men to be percise.

 

[HJ Tulp]

Hendrik was tired. First he had been at the ballroom, escorting the Bohemian princesses and then he had a lengthy discussion with members of the Van der Leeuwen trade House who demanded to have their ships escorted through the Southernsea as they feared that the Burgundian rebels would see their chance to attack the Gelran trading vessels. Though Hendrik van Egmondt knew that they chances of the Duke of Holland and Zeeland would allow piracy by his subjects was almost none but the Van der Leeuwens had alot of influence in the Raed van Staate so in the end he had to give in. And now when he thought he could finally relax a bit there were these Germans, bah. However, the Bavarians request intrigued him and he invited the spokesman in. Arrving in a working office he said.

"Please be seated, I must say that your request intrigues me to say the least. I would offcourse love to help you. However I need to know more. For example, what are you going to do with 1200 men in Ireland? And how much do you intend to pay for the shipping? And I didn't catch your name sir."

 

[HJ Tulp]

The Duke meerly nodded in approval as the Regent spoke. He stared at Jan for a moment and then clapped his hands together in approval.

You already understand well the nature of war, your Grace. Keeping my troops here a reserve sounds most wise to my ear, unless circumstances change in somewat requiring more force against the League of Arras, if they are victorious in the south, perchance.

As to your sister, I have no doubt that she is a woman of free mind, which all the more makes me wish to see her. I cannot wait until tomorrow. It shall be a glorious day... I can feel it.

Jan nodded.

"I would be glad to introduce you to my sister tomorrow. Now, shall we return to the festivities?" and with that the soon to be Duke left the study room together with the Bavarain.

Outside he met the Portoguese.

"Your Grace, I believed you wanted discuss matters of trade with me? If it involves the Hansa then I suggest we also discuss it with Duke Johann of Brandenburg."

 

[Elias Tarfarius]

The Bavarian smiled, revealing his wolf-like teeth which usually stayed behind his aged exterior. He shook the Egmond prince's hand and took a seat.

A thousand pardons for lacking the grace to give you a proper introduction, your excellency. I am Herr Tobias Mantel, a lord of Bayern and recently appointed "Grand Emmissary of her Grace, Elisabeth von Wittlesbach, Regent of Bavaria, unto the High King of Ireland and the Western Isles and unto the King of Tir Eoghain." It is a mouthful of a title, is it not. Yet it explains the number of men and the amount of baggage we needs must take. Ireland, though a Christian kingdom, is a rough and unsettled place, even more than Scotland or Burgundy. *laughs and then returns to serious face* In fact, the number of armed men we have is quite small, 500 hundred knights and a few crossbowmen. The great majority of the number are squires and other servants alonf with various "camp followers' that we have picked up along the way. If only I could chase all those armor-shining boys and whores away, but alas.

As to our purpose in Ireland... that is not of great concern to your excellency. It is a mission of peace and of inquiry, for you see one of our princess, Katrina, daughter of the late Duke Enrst, was married to Prince Donnchad of Ireland, son of Hugh O'Neill, then High King. Well, upon his death, the Neills were overthown and none more was heard of the princess. It seemed something most foul had happened till we learned recently that poor Donnchad had gone insane and that Katrina stood by him day and night taking care of him. Their son Eoghan is a great and holy prince, like unto Karl der Grosse, and it is he who maintains their estate. The current king, Terrance, is, on the other hand, a common rogue from a tribe of peasants and usurpers. Still, it is not my duty to meddle in other realms, so we shall go and neogciate treaty with the king on matters of commerce, the security of the Haus O'Neill, and a purchase of mercenaries for the Duchy, for the Irish are mighty warriors and hardy beyond repute.

Now, down to business, pay! My current asking prince is 5,000 florins plus the service of my men after the mission to Ireland is complete. I think that is fair, your Grace. What say you?

 

[I Killed Kenny]

Outside he met the Portoguese.

"Your Grace, I believed you wanted discuss matters of trade with me? If it involves the Hansa then I suggest we also discuss it with Duke Johann of Brandenburg."

Estevão is happy to finnally be hable to speak with Jan​

"Your grace, we are here for one thing, but we can also discuss the hansa. We seek a place a friendlly and stable place to export our goods to the north of Europe and the baltic. But we do not want to pay no sound due. That is why King João decieded that the lowlands would be the best place to do it. In this particulary, this duchy. And because you are part of hansa, this duchy and a future Portuguese Trading post would be the best place to export to the rest of Europe. Because don't be miss judge, the trade of Africa is profitable, very profitable" he smiles to Jan.

 

[I Killed Kenny]

Estevão Looks to the sides waiting for a reply from Jan, who seemed to take too much time​

 

[unmerged(945)]

At some point during the day, Dorothea von Hohenzollern found her way to the two bohemian princesses. She smiled broadly and curtseyed gracefully.

"Good evening Your Highnesses. It seems like we will have the honor of travelling together on the way back from the coronation. I... I even heard the two of you plan to stay in Berlin for at least a short while."

"Perhaps we can even get to know eachother better along the way." She then paused and looked at the other guests. "So what does Your Highnesses think about the reception?"

 

[HJ Tulp]

The Bavarian smiled, revealing his wolf-like teeth which usually stayed behind his aged exterior. He shook the Egmond prince's hand and took a seat.

A thousand pardons for lacking the grace to give you a proper introduction, your excellency. I am Herr Tobias Mantel, a lord of Bayern and recently appointed "Grand Emmissary of her Grace, Elisabeth von Wittlesbach, Regent of Bavaria, unto the High King of Ireland and the Western Isles and unto the King of Tir Eoghain." It is a mouthful of a title, is it not. Yet it explains the number of men and the amount of baggage we needs must take. Ireland, though a Christian kingdom, is a rough and unsettled place, even more than Scotland or Burgundy. *laughs and then returns to serious face* In fact, the number of armed men we have is quite small, 500 hundred knights and a few crossbowmen. The great majority of the number are squires and other servants alonf with various "camp followers' that we have picked up along the way. If only I could chase all those armor-shining boys and whores away, but alas.

As to our purpose in Ireland... that is not of great concern to your excellency. It is a mission of peace and of inquiry, for you see one of our princess, Katrina, daughter of the late Duke Enrst, was married to Prince Donnchad of Ireland, son of Hugh O'Neill, then High King. Well, upon his death, the Neills were overthown and none more was heard of the princess. It seemed something most fould had happened till we learned recently that poor Donnchad had gone insane and that Katrina stood byhim day and night taking care of him. Their son Eoghan is a great and holy prince, like unto Karl der Grosse, and he is maintain their estate. The current king, Terrance, is, on the other hand, a common rogue from a tribe of peasants and usurpers. Still, it is not my duty to meddle in other realms, so we shall go and neogciate treaty with the king on matters of commerce, the security of the Haus O'Neill, and a purchase of mercenaries for the Duchy, for the Irish are mighty warriors and hardy beyond repute.

Now, down to business, pay! My current asking prince is 5,000 florins plus the service of my men after the mission to Ireland is complete. I think that is fair, your Grace. What say you?

Hendrik listened carefully to the Bavarian.

"It is very well my concern what you are planning to do in Eire!" after that small outburst Hendrik thought for a few seconds.

"Hmmmm, getting transportation for your forces will not be easy, the Gelran economy thrives and our trading partners in the Medditeratian and the Baltic region require alot of transportation." Hendrik wasn't totally telling the truth, yes the Gelran economy was running smoothly but recently the Hansa Nordic Company was disbanded due to the climate changes so there were more then enough vessels available. He was only saying this to higher the price.

"Let me tell you our price, we only require 4,000 for your florins however I think that once you return there won't be any need for your forces anymore, so we require your service immediately. On the Northside of the Southernsea there is a string of islands, the most western ones are subject to the Burgundian Crown, they are the personal fief of the Count of Holland an Zeeland, Jan van Bayern who has joined the Union of Arras. We need those islands to protect our shippinglines and aid a possible blockade. The islands are probably not defended by that many forces, a hunderd in total probably so the conquest will not take longer then five days, once a island is taken our forces will garrison it. Also, we require a written contract in which you state your intentions in Eire. What do you think?"

 

[HJ Tulp]

Estevão is happy to finnally be hable to speak with Jan​

"Your grace, we are here for one thing, but we can also discuss the hansa. We seek a place a friendlly and stable place to export our goods to the north of Europe and the baltic. But we do not want to pay no sound due. That is why King João decieded that the lowlands would be the best place to do it. In this particulary, this duchy. And because you are part of hansa, this duchy and a future Portuguese Trading post would be the best place to export to the rest of Europe. Because don't be miss judge, the trade of Africa is profitable, very profitable" he smiles to Jan.

The reason Jan's reply took so long was because of the letter he got from a courier. After reading that Jan looked overjoyed.

"Well your Grace, it looks like I'm not authorised to discuss matters of trade with you at the moment as it seems that the Duchy of Bremen has finally awoken again. However I will contact Duke Johan of Bremen and ask him if I may discuss the matter with you for the Hansa."