Chapter 36: Something completely different!
As the war ranged in the West, a different victory was being won by the empire in the east, One not of swords and steel but of the pen and spoken word. The great Khagan of Mongolia, the Grandson of Genghis the Conqueror had seen the light and embraced the Holy faith.
With entry to the Catholic brotherhood the Kaiser saw fit to properly welcome the Mongols with a marriage. Prince Reinhard was the Emperor's first choice for a marriage. Though when the Emperor's firstborn died Reinhard became the Heir and the Kaiser decided against bringing the Mongols too tightly into the family and instead married off a Second son in reinhard's place years later.
Of course as was the the reoccurring theme, the Empress of Austria was an important Woman, seen by many throughout the country. She like many before her found solace in the arms of another while the Kaiser was away on campaign.
The Kaiser arranged an immediate divorce and married a younger Noble courtier from a german house. The Byzantine Emperor was furious though there was nothing he could do and Nikarete returned to Byzantium, stripped of all signs of nobility or heritage wearing a common rough spun robe.
In his later years the Kaiser turned his focus to his heir Reinhard. It was critically important the Empire stay strong, the Many vassals within her borders broke bread hundreds of miles away, speaking of independence, heresy and weakening the Kaiser's authority. Without a strong, honest and diplomatic Kaiser the Empire would fall victim to the very fuedal system the Kaiser's ancestors had exploited to restore the Roman Empire.
To further this end the Kaiser took it upon himself to raise his niece, the lass Ursula. Merely a young women Ursula was wise, and strong much like her grandmother Osterhild. Though not completely as the Kaiser one day found Urusla in a storeroom kissing one of the cooks daughters.
Of course Ursula was betrothed to the crown Prince, She would be expected to produce an Heir. This development had complicated things. In less civilized Times Ursula could have been stoned, killed or sent to a Nunnery, This was an Annionan Europe however, One in which the great Eugenius IV had banned violence against sodomites in any form centuries ago.
The Kaiser needed a new alternative, when the templars approached him with an option. A strange spice from india that had found its way into pleasure houses in Wien. Seeing no other option the Kaiser had given the Templars his approval. The Crown prince and Ursula were given a drink laced with spice, and locked in a room.
Of course, Perhaps giving underage childrens strange spices wasn't the best Idea as Ursula quickly developed the age old Anniona taste and had used her natural talents to slip away with the Crown Prince, or some of her Handmaidens whenever she felt in the mood.
Interesting Tastes aside the Crown Princess had blossomed into a fighteningly talented young women, The Greatest Diplomatic mind Europe had even seen. What Ursula wanted she received with a soft word. Though she desired little and was rather a Paragon of every virtue but one, and its not like anyone in the Empire particularly cared that she was close with the Crown prince or her handmaidens, after all the Empire Needed and Heir and Reinhard was her only lover capable of producing one.
Speaking of Reinhard, the Boy had grown much like his father, inheriting his own silver tongue though not much of his skill in anything else at all and still eclipsed entirely by his new wife. The Kaisers prayers were answered, a talented, if a bit of a savant heir and a future Kaiserine that would put Osterhild, Gisela or his Grandmother to shame.
Of course seeing the younger generation going at it had gotten the Kaiser quite bothered as well, His new wife was rather distance and had avoided the Kaiser since the Wedding night and always seemed to snicker whenever she looked Upon any of Christopher's descendants. However, Tenkil of Mongolia, sister to the Kaiser's daughter in law Sorkhagatani didn't seem to mind as much.
The Emperors Youngest, Sigmund was to be tutored by the great Martial Minds of Empire. Sigismund however had grown nervous around Princess Ursula and asked his father to serve out his days as a Monk. The Kaiser approved.
With the kids growing up the Kaiser set about re-assembling the council for his Son. Age was steadily becoming a facotr and the Kaiser wished to ensure only the most talented were on the council. The old guard was shuffled out and replaced with a new, young and talented council.
King-Elector Bernhard of Bohemia, A ward of the Emperor at one time who had learned the art of negotiation well from his tutor as the Chancellor.
Helferiech of Urgell, son of a Great commander from the Aztec invasion. Undefeated Duelist and top commander within Austria. Given the the position of Marshall and sent to ensure the Knights of Leopold were in top shape and properly organized.
Hartmann, The Brother of Princess Ursula, a talented economic Mind, Hartmann saw everything as an opportunity. When his sister was betrothed to the crown Prince he worked tirelessly to prove himself to the Kaiser, and was amply rewarded. From his position head Treasurer and Stewart of the Holy Roman Empire he had begun to amass a vast personal fortune investing in Brothels, Trading companies and the Indian Spice Trade.
Wigerich, the oldest member of the Imperial council who had proven his usefullness after the Kaiser was nearly assassinated shortly after Wigerich was fired. Many suspected Wigerich himself had ordered the attack but he had quickly used his contacts despite being in the Imperial prison at the time to reveal evidence that it was none other than the King of Germany. For his loyalty Wigerich was given back the Position of Spymaster, though the Kaiser had prepared a replacement should Wigerich die.
Finally there is Engelbert. The court chaplain had quickly become a position of irrelevance in the Imperial court, The Holy father held the spiritual power in Austria, whether he was given a chair on the Kaiser's small council or not. Engelbert had nontheless proven his worth however as he was the missionary who had converted the Mongol horde to the light of Jesus.
Speaking of the Holy Church. A strange phenomenon had occured. House Anniona had monopolized the Papal elections Five times in a row. More radical elements of the faith claimed corruption and scandal, these elements were of course hunted down and burned at the stake. The Holy father abandoned all sense of Dynasty when taking the throne of saint peter.
Though it was strange that the Seal of Rome had adopted the Anniona Coat of Arms. When a Papal bull was passed legitimizing the Right of Emperors to marry close family, it had become apparent that the chair of saint peter was no more than a puppet of the Kaisers in Austria. More Bulls would follow, of course, though the Bible had slowly become less and less of a factor in Papal decisions.
After decades of war, and decades more of peace, Finally Reinhard passed in his sleep. In a peaceful and organized succession his Son Reinhard had taken the Crown of Mathias and declared himself Kaiser. It would be up to the new generation to continue this new Austrian golden age where Christopher and Reinhard left off.