GroβMurpel: Wish I knew, I'm pretty sure it's not something I did.
Chapter 8 (in which there is no vote because the slider move was only two years after the end of the last update)
The Act for the Expansion of the Administration passed with a slight majority. From now on The Kingdom of Naples would have a more adaptable and effective government. This coincided with an elimination of over-inflation, thanks mostly to the efforts of Ademario Capidignano, a stellar economist put in charge of the Royal Mint; so skilled he was, that his abilities earned him the nickname "master of mint" among the administrations of Europe. Feeling more confident about her kingdom's economy, she orders that as much money as possible without producing inflation to be put in the royal treasury instead of reinvested and orders the first specialised workshops in Naples to be built in the capital.
That is also one of her last acts as Queen, as on 11th of May of the next year, at the great age of 72, she is found dead in her bed. Her nephew, Ruggiero IV von Wittelsbach, son of a Nuremburgian noble, inherits the throne. Though already in his early 30s, he is a man that has spent most of his time in his father's court rather than the one he inherited, and his relative obscurity is met with scepticism. The tightness of the royal treasury also forces him to cut back on any celebration, not helping him gain any legitimacy.
Nevertheless, he an incredibly skilled administrator, and a relatively better diplomat than his predecessor, both invaluable skills. The relative peace at home however did not allow him to develop any skill in warfare. Hopefully the Napolitan military leadership will be able to pull through despite this.
And despite his less-than-perfect diplomatic skills, they are good enough for people to truly appreciate his solid managerial ability, and so know that he is a dependable person.
His younger brother and heir apparent, Carlo, has also inherited the same administrative skill that he has. Unlike Ruggiero, however, Carlo actively participated in the Napolitan court, and followed the armies on their campaigns, learning a fair bit in the art of war. That did deprive him of the diplomatic experience his brother had; in fact, some people said the brothers were almost identical, except that one was as good a general as the other was a diplomat.
In Iberia, Aragonese armies had passed the border into Castille in the middle of their war of aggression. With the Castillian capital under siege, the king quickly makes peace with the Granadan Maalik, taking only a hefty amount of money and the coastal city of Gibraltar.
Back in Naples, Ruggiero finds the petition that was submitted to Joan by the city's merchants and immediately orders that the more restrictive laws on trade are lifted, much to the dismay of the court that had gotten used to the Councils that dictated state policy.
Having recently absorbed its vassal of Guyenne on the Atlantic coast of Occitania, England takes the opportunity presented to it and also declares war on Castille, with the goal of "liberating minorities in the kingdom from their oppressors".
And as if she didn't have enough on her plate, Castille gets declared war by the kingdom of Navarra as well, which has claims on the two Castillian provinces bordering it.
Ruggiero's managerial skills quickly begin to pay off, and along with the influx of skilled men thanks to the new administrative system, he can begin properly reorganising the land to more efficient units.
Experience from the decades-long war between England and France reaches Naples, and the longbow formations used by the English are used as basis for new and improved infantry units.
Great news reach Ruggiero in February of 1402. The Sicilians had revolted from Aragon, whose main army was in the middle of Iberia, and declared independence on the eastern half of the island. The Napolitan king wastes no time and establishes proper diplomatic relations with his new neighbour, guaranteeing their independence provided they survive their current war with the Aragonese crown.
England peaces out with Castille, taking their only Basque-populated province and eliciting many sarcastic comments of the definition of "liberation" from the rest of the world.
At the same time, the Castillian leadership appears to be absolutely retarded.
More good news reach Ruggiero as the new Sicilian state has succeeded in seizing control of the western half of the island as well.
In Umbria, the monks at the monastery developed a set of agricultural techniques that are much more efficient than the ones used by the common farmers. After a personal inspection, Ruggiero was so impressed by them that instead of merely encouraging their use, he decides to make them into law, enforcing their use throughout the province.
Meanwhile, the latest war to the west ends the only way it could.
Another church council, this time seated in Bologna, begins.
Finally, Aragon asserts its dominance on the Iberian peninsula once more, through the annexation of four Castillian provinces, including the goldmines of Castilla la Mancha. The Castillian monarch's sole consolation is that a return to status quo manages to be negotiated with Navarra.