HRE NES II: Der Aufstieg

[Micha]

Duchy of Saxony

Orders

King Heinrich, although occupied in chasing the Emperor through Bavaria, is constantly thinking about the future of the March of Meissen. As it is now, the lands are wild, with the odd village here and there, inhabited by savage heathens and for the most part out of control. The King recognizes the things that are lacking: A road network to allow quick travel of merchants and armies; A common band with the inhabitants to relieve the army from the need of rebellion suppression; the conversion of the majority of the heathens; the migration of Germans into the lands; the establishment of strongholds and forts to provide protection and help the development of towns.

Unfortunately the entire budget of Saxony is dedicated to support the troops in Friesland, Meissen and Carinthia. So there´s no way to start on that task right now. He needs to get rid of the Friesland burden one way or another. Preferably, of course, by defeating the Vikings. But there´s still no money for that right now, so the first task is to find new ways of accumulating money. Comparing Saxony with the other duchies, the major weakness is trade. But the recent road building program should have set a base for future trade deals with Saxony´s neighbours...

• spend 125 denarii on a ring wall in Leipzig
• spend 80 denarii on a chapel in Leipzig
• spend 50 denarii to fund a campaign to induce migration into the March of Meissen
• Have the protectors of the March protect Leipzig
• Call up new generals
• Have the advisors look into trade opportunities for Saxony and a plan for splitting the eastern parts of Saxony in order to give a rich and stable core to the new March of Meissen in preparation of a feudalization of the latter
• Start trade with Bavaria: 100d of Saxonian lead for 100d of Bavarian glassware
• Take 70 men of the Bremen levy, give them 70 polearms, eqip 30 of them with additional Magyar bows and form the "German Nail Guards" with them; March them into Bavaria where they shall receive further orders from the Duke of Bavaria.

[Nimitz]

Duke Vratislaus to King Heinrich and Duke Arnulf SECRET
If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion my lord. I would suggest escorting the nail in addition with a small complement of guards from the king with his banner. Then if the Emporer decides that he wishes to take the nail it would be a great afront to Germany and one directly effecting my lord. Thus give an even greater excuse should you wish to try and remove the crown of the emporer from the head of the usurper.

[appleciders]

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to King Heinrich of Saxony
My lord, I have noted your intention to increase Saxony's trade volume. My advisors have suggested that a lead supply would be helpful, and so I offer you 100 d. of fine Italian glassware for 100 d. of your lead. I believe such glassware would be helpful to you in trading to the less-advanced natives east of you.

[Cyclotron]

Originally posted by Micha
King Heinrich, although occupied in chasing the Emperor through Bavaria

You are following him into Italy? Please explain.

[Micha]

Originally posted by Cyclotron
You are following him into Italy? Please explain.

No, that was just the remark about the emperor´s departure before I arrived. Sorry.

To Duke Arnulf of Bavaria
Excellent! We agree!

[Micha]

Originally posted by Nimitz
Duke Vratislaus to King Heinrich and Duke Arnulf SECRET
If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion my lord. I would suggest escorting the nail in addition with a small complement of guards from the king with his banner. Then if the Emporer decides that he wishes to take the nail it would be a great afront to Germany and one directly effecting my lord. Thus give even great excuse should you wish to try and remove the crown of the emporer from the head of the usurper.

This is an excellent suggestion! We shall do so!

[appleciders]

While transporting the Nail under the King's banner would prevent Berengar from taking the Nail without an affront to Germany, what makes us think he would not make the affront? Germany fights two wars on two fronts, and reserves are scarce. The Emperor has the capacity to call up an extremely large army, and I would not fancy taking a campaign on the offensive while outnumbered even without rapacious heathens knocking at my door at home. The Emperor knows this- why would he hesitate to take the Nail, knowing that Germany cannot spare the troops to avenge the affront?

These criticisms come from a position of having no better alternative, of course. I will mull the problem over, and see if a better solution presents itself.

[Cyclotron]

Nobody likes poor Berengar

[Nimitz]

Nope no one does. I personally would like to see the crown of the emporer in the hands of Germany but that may have to wait.

[appleciders]

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to all German Dukes
My friends, I come to you bearing a tale. You have all heard me reference my recapture of the second Nail, and I believe the time has come to inform Germany, if not all of Christendom, how this came to pass.

My scouts intercepted a courier from the Magyars to Berengar. This messenger carried both the second Holy Nail and a letter stating that the Nail was Berengar's payment for withdrawing his troops from Carinthia. Berengar, in his capacity as Holy Roman Emperor, sold out Germany to improve his position with the Pope.

Now that Germany is in possession of the second Nail and this damning evidence against Berengar, we already have the pretext for war. But who is to wage it? Germany is bogged down fighting in the east and north. I suggest, however, that our neighbors to the west, the Franks and Burgundians, may take this as an affront, since our relations with them are much stronger than with the Emperor, and they have felt the first touches of the Magyars, and remember the Huns of old. These kings may not take Berengar's actions against Germany lightly; each of them has felt the pressure of the heathens, and may refuse to support a foreigner as their superior if he does not look out for their interests. Their anger might place a more reasonable Emperor on the throne, who would send a detachment of troops to Carinthia and Friesland to assist in the liberation of the provinces.

[Cyclotron]

Duke Burchard II of Swabia to All German Dukes
This is outrageous! I cannot count the denarii and lives I've lost to the Magyars, and now the Emperor schemes with them? Berengar has gone too far this time. I have good mutual relations with the nobles of Burgundy, and I'd be more than happy to use any influence I have with them to encourage King Rudolph to take up arms. He's been a friend to us since he inherited the throne, and I'd rather see him on the throne of Italy than a vile traitor. As for the Imperial Crown, I'd rather see it back in a Papal vault than on any head that's colluded with the heathens.

[Micha]

King Heinrich to German Dukes (secret)

My fellow warriors and friends, brethren in fate, I have to call for order in this discussion. The story about the emperor´s treason is long known to me and his majesty, the King of Burgundy. We have had correspondence about how to react, and he has informed me of a long-reaching conspiracy against Berengar. When the time is right, the usurper might find himself in the middle of the mess he has created. And I assure you, Germany will then be the least of his enemies.

For now we need to remain calm, as pressing the issue on ourselves might as well fire back, in case our allies are not ready yet. Let us first concentrate on our plan: We will escort the nail to Rome. Should it arrive safely, fine. Should Berengar do any bold moves, he would be knee deep in dung.

[Nimitz]

Duke Vratislaus to all German Dukes (Secret)

I agree with the king to attack them before all is in place would not be wise. We in Bohemia shall wait for the word my lord. I would ask one thing though, that we be given adequate warning so that we may be able to provide the troops needed for with this magyar threat we may ourselves be need deep in our own plans. It would be difficult to turn straight around and help without enough warning.

[appleciders]

Duke Arnulf of Bavaria to all German Dukes (Secret)
I am glad to hear that we might have support from the Christian nations of the east, and I must say that I suspected something of the sort might be brewing when Rudolph of Burgundy recalled his troops from the Carinthian front, though I had not imagined anything of the scope that your Highness implies. I am gratified to hear that you all will support me in this endeavour. I suggest that transporting one Nail to Rome be our goal in the present, and that we might deal with bringing the second Nail to Rome later. My reasons for this are many; for one, if Berengar's power is weakened or entirely removed, transport will become immensely simpler. If no Holy Roman Emperor wears the Imperial crown, aquiring the Nail as a relic for the cathedral I plan will be more likely, or at least increase my chances at being rewarded with a lesser relic. Finally, should Berengar not fall from power the way we might wish him to, holding one Nail will give us bargaining leverage.

For the meantime, transporting the Nail under the banners of both Bavaria and Germany seems the best way to ensure its safe arrival in Rome. I will put together a detachment of soldiers to accompany the King's men.

[Cyclotron]

Originally posted by appleciders
For the meantime, transporting the Nail under the banners of both Bavaria and Germany seems the best way to ensure its safe arrival in Rome. I will put together a detachment of soldiers to accompany the King's men.

This, of course, begs the question of who is going to receive the award. The Pope will probably be interested to know why 1) he is receiving a messenger, and not a dignitary or Duke, and 2) why that messenger is travelling under both Saxon and Bavarian flags. The Pope will probably be gravely insulted if you send some common messenger to collect on the award; he is expecting a Duke, or at least a semi-important nobleman of some kind. Furthermore, there is no "royal banner" or "German banner," the royal banner is right now by definition the Saxon banner.

You're actually in a time before heraldry right now, so none of you have a personal "coat of arms" or anything like that. Duchies generally have flags or patterns that they are recognized under, but there is no "flag of Germany" at present. I suppose that doesn't preculde you from adopting one, however.