God and gold
As expected the decision of the creation of the Evangelic Church of Brandenburg meet resistance. The strongest opposition came from the clergy. Not even the right of marrige could weaken there minds.The decision was however final. The nobility and the burghers supported the idea of conversion.
Changing the state-religion into protestantism granted Joachim controll over the land holdings of the clergy. It was incorporated into the Margravates realm. The confiscated goods was estimated worth about 75.000 thaler. An enormous sum, that despite the Margravates already rather full treasury, contributed a lot to an even richer one.
“My lord, You have gained controll over the church and its treasury. The people maybe doesnt love you for this, but they will soon get used to this new order. Think on how much better they will understand the words of God, now when they can hear it in their own language.” Joachim listened to the sound of his chancelor Jurgen von Fritsches voice. “And think of all the gold you have gained. With all this gold you probably is as rich as the emperor himself” Jurgen continued. “I probably am” Joachim replied. “But gold in itself is useless. It is first when you spend it on usefull things that it can make a different.” “So what will you spend it on my lord?” his chancelors asked. “How strange this my sound, I will spend the gold to get even more gold” Joachim answered with a smile on his lips.
The gold was spend on promoting tax collectors, thus giving the Margravate of Brandenburg a more efficant economy. Every city, every village, every man, women and child was carefully noted in the tax collectors books, so that no one could evade from paying taxes. It wasnt a popular reform, but it would higly increase the income of the Margravate.
During that summer, news reached the castle in Potsdam, that Sweden had broke its ties to Denmark and declared a state of war. This conflict seemed to drag more nations into it, when England, as an ally to Sweden, and Russia, as an ally to Denmark, joined in.
In April 1521 Joachim called for the Financial council. He wished to be briefed about the Margravates economy. “What the status of our economy?” The question seemed to be asked to no one special, but the chancelor was the one to answer. “ It havent been better my lord. The promotion of tax collectors have boost our economy. As for last month we collected taxes worth 3900 thaler, the production from your own lands along with other different fees granted you another 900 thaler. Unfortunaly we didnt recive any income from trade. As you are well aware of that damned Hanseatic league controll all the trade in our realm.” “And our expensives?” Once again it was the chancelor who answered. “Well, Your army under the command of Casimir cost us 1300 thaler each month to supply, then we spend another 3200 thaler to raise the spirit of the people. Giving you 300 each month to your treasury. If I would be frankly my lord. I can think of a million other things to do with thoose 3200 each month..” Joachim raised his hand, thus stoping his chancelor to give any suggestion about what he thought would be the right way of spending them. “The people of Brandenburg are my children and I am there father. Isnt the happines of your children closest to your heart, my dear chancelor” He asked. “Well, yes, of course my lord” the chancelor replied. “About the Hanseatic league. We cant let them control our trade for ever” Joachim stated quickly, not to embaress his chancelor any more in front of the others. The man in charge of commercial affairs answered “ If we would like to take control over the trade, we would be forced to send merchants to Lubeck. There is where all the commerce are.” “Well, let send some then” Joachim stated.
Right after the meeting the first merchant was send to Lubeck, soon followed by others. The investments in peoples happines payed off in July. The conversion was now forgotten and it seemed like it had never happened. Even the clergy seemed satisfyed with this new order.
