Episode 220
When your neighbor buys land, it makes your stomach churn.
This age-old adage holds true across cultures and eras, and it often applies not just to individuals but to entire nations. In fact, countries tend to react even more strongly than individuals do.
It’s only natural. While a person might feel a twinge of envy when their neighbor prospers, a king sees the growing power of a neighboring nation as a direct threat.
Thus, it’s no surprise that powerful countries are often the target of scrutiny from their neighbors. When a nation shows signs of expanding its influence, it inevitably draws attention.
Especially if that nation is the Holy Roman Empire, which insists on calling itself Rome.
”…So, you’re saying we need to be cautious because the Holy Roman Empire might make a bold move soon?”
“As expected of Your Majesty Richard. You grasp the situation perfectly without needing further explanation.”
“It seems like I only receive such high praise when there’s something you want from me.”
“Of course not. Who could possibly underestimate Your Majesty Richard? You’re the living embodiment of King Arthur from the storybooks, the greatest knight of our time, and the hero who led the Crusades to success.”
Richard knew these were empty words, but Philip II had a knack for making them sound sincere. This time, it was clear he was joking to lighten the mood, but Richard had been fooled by him more than once before.
Richard took a sip of wine, keeping his guard up, and waited to see what else Philip II had to say.
“I’ve heard that Emperor Henry VI had a lengthy private meeting with the Prophet.”
“That’s not surprising. I’m scheduled to meet him tomorrow as well.”
“Of course, it’s possible. But the real question is what they discussed during that meeting.”
“With a prophecy as significant as the Black Death, there’s bound to be a lot to talk about. Even I’m at a loss for how to handle it.”
“Even considering that, the meeting was unusually long. They likely discussed one or two other topics. And if the Prophet’s next destination is the Holy Roman Empire, my suspicions will be confirmed.”
Richard pretended not to know, but he had a good idea of what was going on. Henry VI’s ambitions were clear, and anyone involved in politics would be aware of them.
The Hohenstaufen family’s dream and goal: to bind the imperial power to their family. Many believed there would never be a more opportune time for Henry VI to achieve this.
And Henry VI was certainly aware of this as well.
“So, you think the Prophet will support Henry VI’s ambitions?”
“Absolutely.”
Richard’s eyes twitched slightly at the unexpected certainty in Philip’s response.
“Why would the Prophet have any reason to bolster the Holy Roman Empire’s power?”
“Conversely, there’s no reason not to. We mustn’t forget that the Prophet isn’t inherently aligned with England or France.”
“I’m aware of that. But hasn’t it been a long-standing tradition for the Pope and the nobility to check the Emperor’s power?”
“True, but the Prophet isn’t the Pope, is he?”
”…”
Philip II had a point. The Pope had historically kept the Emperor in check to prevent him from using his power to pressure the Church. But the Pope couldn’t do it alone. Without the support of nobles opposing the Emperor, even the Pope couldn’t challenge him.
The humiliation at Canossa, where the Emperor submitted to the Pope, was only possible because the nobles sided with the Pope to curb the Emperor’s power.
But Marshall was different. His influence transcended mere political or religious power, existing on an entirely different level. He didn’t need the support of nobles or other kings.
No matter how strong the Holy Roman Emperor’s power became, could Henry VI really stand defiant before Marshall? Doing so might invite divine retribution. Even without such direct consequences, if Marshall openly withdrew his support from the Holy Roman Empire, the Emperor’s authority would plummet.
He might even be deposed by the nobles the very next day.
So, from Marshall’s perspective, it likely didn’t matter whether the Holy Roman Empire’s power grew or waned.
“Then, does a stronger imperial power benefit the Prophet in any way?”
“Indeed. The Prophet is surprisingly ambitious, in a positive sense. With the Black Death prophecy, he wants to do more than just avert disaster; he wishes to actively engage with the world to make it a better place.”
“And how does a strong monarchy relate to that?”
“A centralized communication system is more efficient for issuing commands. When implementing large-scale national policies, dispersed power slows down decision-making and creates inefficiencies. I have a personal hunch that the Prophet sees a centralized structure as a more advanced system.”
While the last part was purely Philip II’s personal opinion, the rest made sense.
“So, assuming the Prophet supports Emperor Henry VI, what can we do?”
“We must prepare. We need to anticipate how the Holy Roman Empire might change under a true emperor and how far its influence could reach, to minimize future risks.”
“If the Holy Roman Empire’s power truly consolidates, it will be formidable. But they can’t just start a war, so is there really a need for such caution?”
“National power isn’t solely determined by military strength. Even in the new era of peace advocated by the Prophet, small-scale conflicts will persist. We must remain vigilant.”
Richard understood Philip II’s intentions perfectly. France couldn’t counter the Holy Roman Empire alone, so they sought to balance power by involving England.
And for England, this wasn’t a bad proposition. If France effectively checked the Holy Roman Empire, England could benefit without lifting a finger.
“Very well. Then we’ll continue to cooperate for our mutual benefit. As long as England and France maintain a strong alliance, the Holy Roman Empire won’t dare act recklessly.”
“Exactly. They’re only Roman in name, not the real Rome. Ha ha ha!”
“Be careful with such remarks, or Emperor Henry VI might actually declare war on France.”
“Oh dear, if that happens, Your Majesty Richard, please come to our aid.”
With a final round of lighthearted banter, Richard rose from his seat, and Philip II saw him off with a broad smile.
‘That should do it.’
Philip II had achieved all his objectives in this meeting. Richard might not have realized it, but the real purpose wasn’t to check the Holy Roman Empire.
Of course, Philip II hadn’t lied. The stabilization and strengthening of the Holy Roman Empire’s power were indeed a thorn in France’s side. But he didn’t see it as a significant threat.
If necessary, they could always ally with England, and Marshall would never allow the Holy Roman Empire to clash with France or England.
So why had he lured Richard with talk of alliances? To eliminate any obstacles to France’s acquisition of Andalusia.
The timing was perfect. The Prophet was heading to the Holy Roman Empire, and France had convincingly shown that it was preparing for the Holy Roman Empire’s growing power.
Now, England would mistakenly believe that any move France made was to counter the Holy Roman Empire. As a result, England would focus all its attention on the Holy Roman Empire, allowing France to secure Andalusia without competition.
England might find this frustrating, but Philip II had a defense. He hadn’t lied; he had merely withheld some truths.
If England failed to foresee this outcome and didn’t discern France’s intentions, they bore some responsibility.
‘Securing Andalusia would make the Western Mediterranean effectively ours. The Atlantic’s value might be uncertain now, but who knows how the future will unfold? It’s never a bad idea to plant our flag early.’
Reports from agents in the Maghreb were already hinting at something significant, and with Marshall heading to the Holy Roman Empire, the timing couldn’t have been better.
If Marshal managed to stabilize the chaos in Maghreb and save the Muwahhidun, all the preparations made so far would have been in vain.
“I suppose I should summon Count Damartin and discuss this matter.”
Lately, the count had been indulging in leisure within his own lands, seemingly tired of intellectual pursuits. Yet, it was a well-established fact that his strategic acumen rivaled his own.
Conveniently, the count was in Paris for the upcoming event, so it wouldn’t hurt to share the strategy and get his feedback.
However, when King Philip II sent a page to summon the count, he received an unexpected response.
“Your Majesty, the count is currently in a private meeting with the Prophet and is unable to respond to your summons. He asks if he may visit you once the Prophet departs. How should I proceed?”
“The count is with the Prophet?”
It had been so long that he had nearly forgotten. But now it came back to him.
The count had indeed escaped Jerusalem with the Prophet and journeyed to England as comrades-in-arms.
Given their long-awaited reunion, it was only natural they would have much to discuss.
‘Could the count reveal our intentions to the Prophet? No, if it’s the Prophet, he likely already knows without being told.’
In that case, Marshal’s ascent to the Holy Roman Empire might be seen as tacit approval for France to swallow Andalusia.
He leisurely poured himself another glass of wine, savoring its aroma as he contemplated the future—the fate of the locals in Iberia, the reactions of England and the northern Iberian states, and more.
“The board is set; now it’s just a matter of waiting for the pieces to move.”
Though the events had yet to unfold, the king’s mind had already reached its conclusions.