Chapter Twenty Five - First steps
It is November of 1234 and Vienna is experiencing yet another opulent feast, thrown by the extravagant Kaiser. The lost war is long since forgotten, together with the infamous return of the humiliated remnants of the Reichsarmee.
This time we are celebrating the big news - Siegmund is going to re-marry! Not really soon as his future bride is still a mere child but even the betrothal is an important event because union of such important royal houses as Ynglings and von Babenbergers surely are does not happen every day.
But that was not yet all. Siegmund invited not only the lords of the realm but other important European rulers as well. And three days into the festivities he betrothed both his daughters to two Kings - young Arnaud of France to secure some help against Lotharingia in the future and Carlo d' Hauteville, in line with the long von Babenberger tradition to marry into this Sicilian ruling house.
(OK, the event says something different but...who cares?)
With the feast in full swing, no one really noticed a small group of travelers which found an accommodation in one of the city's inn. An old knight, his servant and a noble lady, all looking like someone you won't remember the minute after you saw them.
Because often you identify the true creators of history only when it is too late.
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The feast is concluded by a small fencing competition. All spectators expected it would develop as it always does - Marshal Johann and Duke Dietrich would fight for the trophy with one of them being eventually proclaimed the best fighter of the realm. Till the next tournament, that is.
But today the events have gone out of the track pretty quickly. Johann von Hagenow was beaten in the first round by a stranger looking old enough to be his father (interesting, since Johann is not a youngster anymore) and in the finals even the sword-master Dietrich lost three points to two against the foreigner.
After the duel, the Kaiser invites the man to talk with him.
"Who are you, stranger?"
"You can call me Nimrod."
"Hm. And what are you doing here?"
"I am a wandering knight. And I have travelled a long way to serve you."
"Serve me? Why?"
"Because you are the Holy Roman Emperor, destined to glory. I have been watching you since you took the crown and all you've managed to do since is to plot the control of Croatia away from your cousin."
"What?! I could have you executed for such daring words!"
"And I know you won't do that. You want to know more. Because you feel it as well. That this is not the Empire. You need to show the world you still have the power. Otherwise they will simply come and take what they want, just like Rama."
"What do you suggest?"
"We will attack Lotharingia and convince the Chatenois to bow before the Imperial throne! And to show you that I really mean it, that I really stand on your side, I'll lead your forces in the conflict."
The strange man finishes his speech, looking with his burning stare at Siegmund, knowing that he can't refuse...
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When Johann von Hagenow is informed about the plan, his reaction is more than predictable.
"This is madness! We cannot match the Lotharingian armies and their allies in the field, especially after the defeats in Croatia! We ought to wait till France can join our side...and who the hell is that man?"
"That is Nimrod, the Supreme Field Commander of the campaign."
The Marshal is left speechless. The Kaiser made an absolutely unknown man one of the most prominent leaders of the realm? Why? Especially when this 'Nimrod' is looking as he is. He reminds Johann of someone. Of a long-lost memory.
This won't end well.
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The plan was easy. A small force would besiege Nancy while the rest of the Reichsarmee unite in Swabia and lure the Lotharingians to a devastating battle.
It started well as in November the Chatenois army, slightly bigger than the Reichsarmee took a lone Imperial fortress near Thüringen and began moving south.
(notice the impending doom in the north)
The armies finally clashed in December near Württemberg, with the best Holy Roman leaders in command.
The main Lotharingian charge was directed to the centre. Nimrod, knowing that, pulled back with the Chatenois column following him.
Meanwhile Duke Ehrenfried shattered the Lotharingian left flank and started encircling the centre, exhausted from crossing the Neckar river. From then the Lotharingians had no chance for victory.
The Battle of Heilbronn was a devastating success for the Reichsarmee. It was believed to be the turning point of the conflict. Even von Hagenow started to think of a possible victory...
The main Imperial army was swiftly ordered to march to help the stack at Nancy as the scattered Lotharingians managed to form a formidable army there and attack the isolated Holy Roman unit.
They arrived just in time to turn the Battle of Sarrebourg into yet another victory of the Reich. Could this be the new dawn? Some are already looking east, to see the new sun, the Siegmund's Sun rising...
...only to see the horizont covered by the combined army of Brandenburg and the remnants of the forces of the Kingdom.
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Two days later a group of negotiators arrives from the enemy encampment. They are going to speak only with the leader, wishing to talk about peace.
"May the Devil curse them!" As they are approaching, one of the members of the Nimrod's suite mutters a curse. The Commander hears it. He looks into the face of the leading Chatenois envoy and inaudibly whispers his own adage.
"Speak of the Devil..."
The negotiating goes swift. Lotharingians offer a white peace in trade of the safe passage of the Reichsarmee to the Imperial lands. Nimrod refuses that and both armies prepare to meet the next morning.
The Imperials are outnumbered 13:10 though fortified behind the Saar river in Sarrebourg. A situation like this already happened.
And it ended the same way.
And yet again, even though while winning the war, a sole lost battle turned it into a debacle.
But Nimrod is not angry nor desperate. It is hard to win when all the trumpf cards are held by enemies.
But this is just a beginning. And when it ends, you all will be surprised.
