December 19, 1187.
Cardinal Paul Scolari was elected as the new pope, taking the name Clement III.
It was an unexpected stroke of luck, as his predecessor, Pope Gregory VIII, had passed away after a mere 57 days in office.
Unlike his predecessor, Clement III was determined and proactive from the start, tackling the issues that had long plagued the papacy.
First, he granted the citizens of Rome the right to elect their own officials, fulfilling the long-held papal dream of entering Rome. No longer would he have to reside in Pisa and face a lonely death like Gregory VIII.
After expanding the College of Cardinals to 30 members, Clement III resolved to seriously pursue the Third Crusade.
But to send a crusade, Europe first needed stability. Western Europe was rife with conflict, from the rivalry between England and France to the brewing civil war within England itself.
Without resolving these issues, a crusade would remain a mere fantasy.
Amidst this turmoil, unexpected news arrived from the bishops sent to mediate between Henry II and Richard.
“A knight named Edward Marshall, a veteran of the Crusades, claims to be a prophet who has received revelations from God. Even after thorough examination by Henry II and numerous nobles, the evidence seems undeniable.”
A prophet? What nonsense.
“A prophet hasn’t appeared in a thousand years, so why now?”
Surely, this was another charlatan. If he managed to deceive even the bishops, he must be a sophisticated fraud, but he couldn’t fool the Pope, God’s representative on Earth.
Clement III focused intently on the evidence the bishops had sent, supposedly proving the prophet’s claims.
“So, he predicted the outcome of the Battle of Hattin, the fall of Jerusalem, and how Saladin would allow the Christians to leave unharmed… before it even happened?”
This wasn’t something that could be dismissed as mere guesswork. It seemed to be a prediction backed by keen insight and analysis.
Having served in the Crusades, he would have known the strengths of both armies and understood Saladin’s character.
“Frauds are often quite clever…”
Yet, the Pope’s rational analysis didn’t last long.
The so-called prophet had predicted Gregory VIII’s ascension before Urban III had even died, and even foretold that Gregory VIII would live only about 50 days, with Clement himself succeeding him?
He even got the papal names Gregory VIII and Clement III right. It was chilling.
“Well… this is…”
Could there be a mole in the Vatican leaking information? No, that didn’t make sense.
Were Urban III and Gregory VIII assassinated, not victims of natural causes? But even if that were the case, how could he know what name the next pope would choose?
He had never even met this Edward Marshall.
“Could he truly be… a prophet? Has God finally broken His long silence to speak directly?”
Why now? Why at this moment?
Questions swirled in his mind, but after reviewing all the evidence sent by the bishops, the Pope found no logical way to refute it.
With predictions this specific and timely, what choice did he have but to believe?
“And this prophet was a knight who served in the Crusades.”
If he couldn’t deny it, he had to consider how to use it to his advantage.
Of course, if Edward Marshall truly was a prophet receiving God’s word, he couldn’t afford to act rashly or deceitfully.
If divine retribution were to fall, the authority of the papacy would be finished.
He had to act in accordance with God’s will while steering Edward Marshall in a way that benefited the papacy.
The Pope of this era was not just a religious figure. He had to be a shrewd politician, more so than any secular ruler.
“For the sake of solidifying the papal authority, the Crusade must succeed. This isn’t a choice.”
When the Holy Land was reclaimed and Jerusalem restored, the Pope’s word was God’s word, and no secular ruler dared defy it.
But now, the Holy Land was back in Muslim hands.
If it couldn’t be reclaimed, the papacy would face criticism for launching a futile military campaign.
Having already embarked on this path, there was no turning back.
It was frustrating to have to clean up the mess left by his predecessors, but what choice did he have?
As God’s representative and the head of the Western Church, the Pope bore the crown and the burdens that came with it.
And Clement III had no intention of letting anyone take that crown from him.
The caravan moves on, even if the dogs bark.
If anyone, prophet or otherwise, tried to hinder the Crusade, they would not be left alone.
Clement III’s eyes grew cold and resolute.
Let me make one thing clear: I have no intention of becoming a clergyman.
Just because I’m treated like a prophet doesn’t mean I have to become a bishop, right?
Most importantly, becoming a bishop means I can’t marry.
Sure, many do it secretly, but officially, it means living a life of celibacy.
I’d rather join the Crusades again than voluntarily give up my social life.
To avoid any misunderstandings, I need to set things straight from the start.
That’s why I openly demanded a title and land from Richard.
It seems my prediction was right, as Richard was visibly taken aback.
”…You want a title and land? Not a position as an archbishop? I was considering the Archbishop of York for you.”
“I’m a noble, not a clergyman. I have no desire to become one.”
“Why not? If you formally pursued a clerical path, you’d have unparalleled advantages. You could rise to cardinal in no time. You might even become the youngest pope in history. Are you sure you don’t want to become a clergyman? Why?”
Because I can’t live a life of celibacy! But I couldn’t say that, so I shook my head with a serious expression.
“Sure, following your suggestion would make it easy to rise through the ranks, but would that be a life true to the word? I was just fortunate to hear God’s message. I’m not well-versed in theology, nor am I prepared to live my life as a clergyman. If I were to rise as a clergyman, it might seem like I’m seeking power.”
“I see. But openly asking for a title and land could also be seen as seeking power, couldn’t it?”
“Not at all. The clearest proof that I’m not interested in a clerical path is living as a secular noble.”
”…Is that so?”
Even I thought it was a flimsy excuse, but such things are all about how you spin them.
And my reluctance to become a bishop wasn’t just about the inability to marry.
While the Church’s authority and political influence were immense now, this wasn’t an ideal state.
The separation of church and state is common sense for a healthy society.
Even if it’s not possible now, I could use my influence to hasten that change.
So why board a sinking ship?
It’s definitely not because I don’t want to live and die a lifelong celibate.
“I’m not asking for something as outrageous as the Duke of Aquitaine. A modest position like a margrave in the Frankish Kingdom or the Holy Roman Empire would suffice, wouldn’t it?”
“That’s not modest at all, but I’ll consider it. Having you manage the border wouldn’t be bad for me either. But I’ll need to think about how to justify granting you the land.”
In the medieval era, the easiest way to acquire land was through marriage, but this required careful consideration.
Marriage was typically a once-in-a-lifetime event unless there were special circumstances, and with my modern sensibilities, the idea of marrying for land was a bit daunting.
There were plenty of other ways to acquire land, so marriage could be a last resort.
“Realistically, whether it’s a margrave or an archbishop, it’s something to discuss once you’ve ascended the throne. Do you have a plan?”
“Now that you’ve stirred things up, I’ll act as soon as the papal envoy arrives. If you firmly support me, we can peacefully secure the throne without resorting to force.”
“Do you really think he’ll step down so easily?”
Knowing Henry II’s temperament, he wouldn’t simply hand over the throne just because he was asked.
Regardless of what the Church said, he might just push things to the limit.
Of course, in a situation where he was losing both in terms of justification and practicality, it would be a futile struggle.
In fact, if he didn’t resist, it would be problematic for us.
Henry II’s resistance would allow us to confiscate the lands of the nobles who sided with him, which I could then claim.
“If civil war is inevitable…”
Richard, unflinchingly speaking of rebellion, snapped his fingers nonchalantly.
“If he refuses to back down, we won’t need to show any mercy.”
Experience really does make a difference.
As they say, the one who’s staged a rebellion before knows how to do it best. The words of someone who’s been through it once already carry a unique weight.
“If you’re truly considering going as far as civil war, it’s wise to prepare in advance. His Majesty Henry II might make the first move if he’s cornered.”
“True enough. If I were in his shoes, I’d probably preemptively take out either you or me. We definitely need to be prepared.”
He wouldn’t be able to stab us outright, so poisoning seems the most likely option.
Of course, suspicion would fall on him, but a man with his back against the wall doesn’t have the luxury to care about that.
We’ll need to be extra cautious with our food for the time being.
Anyone who’s studied history knows that the moment right before success is the most dangerous. Countless people have stumbled just before reaching their goals.
If we fail now, we’ll just be another line in the long list of those who didn’t make it.
“From now on, we must be exceptionally careful. You must remain vigilant until the day you are addressed as Your Majesty.”
“A general who lets his guard down on the battlefield is as good as dead. I’m not that foolish, so don’t worry.”
As we meticulously discussed our plans to pressure Henry II, Richard’s aide rushed in urgently.
“Your Highness, someone from the Vatican has arrived.”
“Oh? Has His Holiness decided to recognize Marshal?”
“Yes, but…”
“But?”
When someone hesitates like that, it’s usually not good news, and my instincts were right.
“It seems that since this is the first prophet to appear since the Vatican was established, His Holiness wishes to meet him personally. There’s also talk that a formal canonization ceremony should follow…”
“With Marshal’s achievements, it’s only natural he’d be recognized as a saint.”
Richard nodded as if it were obvious, and I couldn’t really argue with that.
Given the unprecedented nature of this situation, it’s important to discuss how to proceed.
Establishing a clear protocol now will reduce confusion later.
But you know how it is—sometimes you just get a feeling.
A meeting with the Pope… I’m intrigued, but there’s something unsettling about it.
Regardless of my true feelings, I responded to the Vatican’s summons with as much reverence as I could muster.
“If His Holiness calls, it’s a believer’s duty to go. I’ll gladly make the journey.”
Time to put on another award-winning performance.