Episode 227
As the Holy Roman Empire underwent a monumental transformation, all eyes in Europe turned northward.
Even the nations of the Iberian Peninsula, which had been relatively quiet, found themselves drawn to the developments in the Holy Roman Empire rather than the south.
Initially, there was a sense of caution, as if the Holy Roman Empire had finally established an absolute imperial power. However, the reality was quite different.
“The Emperor is still the Emperor, but they’ve legally limited his powers?”
“Can you even call him an Emperor if he’s bound by law?”
While there were countries where kings ruled according to law, the prevailing view of an emperor was still that of an absolute ruler above the law.
The unexpected shift in the Holy Roman Empire’s political system sent shockwaves across Europe.
England was quick to analyze how this new system would function and what impact it might have on neighboring countries.
“This seems to be a compromise between the Emperor and the Electors. The Emperor wants to establish a hereditary rule, while the Electors are reluctant to grant him power. So, they settled on this middle ground.”
“But there’s also information suggesting that a prophet was involved. Could this mean it’s the right political system?”
“That’s likely due to the unique nature of the Holy Roman Empire. If they claim to be the protector of the Church, it’s only natural they bear such responsibilities.”
Richard preemptively addressed any potential unrest among his own nobles, who might be inspired by the Holy Roman example.
“The peculiar form of monarchy in the Holy Roman Empire is due to their unique circumstances. It has no relevance to our country, so let’s avoid overinterpretation. Instead, we should focus on analyzing the impact of this decision on the Holy Roman Empire.”
“Your Majesty, though unlikely, if the Holy Roman Empire’s influence grows, could we face indirect pressure?”
“That won’t happen. And even if it does, we’ve already coordinated with France on how to respond.”
“Oh! Your Majesty foresaw this transformation, as expected!”
In truth, it was a tip-off from Philip II, but what mattered was the outcome.
While other nations scrambled in confusion, England calmly assessed the situation and prepared for the future.
France was likely in a similar position.
All of Europe was captivated by the Holy Roman Empire’s dramatic shift.
Everyone expected the Holy Roman Empire to dominate the year’s headlines.
Yet, in the south, beyond Europe’s gaze, the seeds of a great schism were rapidly taking root.
“The time to rise is now!”
“Trust in the Caliph is at an all-time low. If this continues, even those of us who follow him could be in danger.”
“Most of us are no longer Muslims but part of the global Orthodox community. Yet, the Caliph’s decisions are endlessly delayed. If this continues, regional control will completely collapse.”
If there was one nation that suffered the most from the Jerusalem Council, it was undoubtedly the Almohad Caliphate.
The Caliph’s disgraceful conduct at the council had severely damaged his prestige.
The title of Caliph, meant to confer religious authority, had become a liability.
While the central government remained under control, regional imams and emirs openly distrusted the Caliph.
-What does the title of Caliph even mean now?
-Claiming the title of Caliph is blasphemy!
-A Caliph who doesn’t recognize the Prophet’s authority! God will punish this nation! I refuse to acknowledge him as our Caliph!
Such statements would normally result in immediate execution, but doing so would mean executing all the regional imams.
Nasir tried to explain that it was all a misunderstanding and that he had a good relationship with the Prophet Marshall, but no one believed him.
The situation was particularly dire in Andalusia on the Iberian Peninsula.
Already difficult to control due to its location across the sea, trust in the Caliph and the central government had plummeted.
Strange rumors from France only accelerated this trend.
The Almohad Caliphate was proving just how vulnerable a nation could become when its religious foundation crumbled.
“I will no longer tolerate any slander or lies about me! Those who destabilize society will be executed immediately to restore order!”
Unable to endure any longer, Nasir issued a series of harsh measures, but they were not well-received.
In fact, all his advisors were trying to dissuade him from making rash decisions.
“Your Highness! Please reconsider! Executing the rebels will only add fuel to the fire!”
“So, you want me to just sit back and listen to their nonsense about overthrowing me? Surely, you’re not in league with those trying to dethrone me?”
“Your Highness! Please trust in our loyalty!”
“If you take a hardline approach now, all the regional emirs will defect!”
“Don’t be ridiculous! I am the Caliph of this nation! How can they criticize me over some so-called Prophet they’ve never even met? It’s absurd…”
Nasir’s outburst left his advisors pale with fear.
Some quickly bowed their heads and prayed for forgiveness, fearing divine retribution.
“Oh, God…”
“These are not our words. Please have mercy…”
Such panic had never been seen before, not even in front of the Caliph.
Nasir, seeing his advisors’ behavior, grew even more furious.
“Divine retribution? What nonsense! I’ve been cursing that so-called Prophet, and yet no punishment has befallen me. This proves he’s a fraud!”
“Your Highness!”
“If you say any more, it will be disastrous!”
Nasir hadn’t intended to go this far.
He had felt a sense of awe after witnessing the Jerusalem Council from start to finish.
But the current situation didn’t allow him to maintain his composure.
With wolves circling to devour him, what was he supposed to do?
If he followed his advisors’ advice and did nothing, he would surely be overthrown.
“The ruler of this nation is not the Prophet but me, Nasir. Those who don’t understand this simple fact should be captured and executed. Eventually, they’ll fall silent.”
“If you do that, all the regional emirs will defect.”
“Then send the army to crush them!”
“Ah…”
Nasir’s brother, Abdallah, the former governor of Andalusia, shook his head.
“Your Highness. If you send the army to crush the rebels, it means you’re willing to risk civil war. Are you aware of that?”
“The civil war won’t be my doing; it’s theirs. If they didn’t have the resolve to challenge me, their talk of not recognizing me as Caliph is nothing but a joke.”
Peaceful resolution was no longer an option.
And stepping down was out of the question, leaving only one conclusion.
The rebels would have to be beaten into submission until they fell silent.
Nasir understood that this would likely lead to a situation akin to civil war.
But at this point, he no longer cared.
His advisors, watching Nasir, who was half-mad with stress and pressure, bowed deeply and withdrew.
After the audience, Nasir’s advisors gathered for a meeting.
Abdallah, Nasir’s brother and former governor of Andalusia, spoke gravely.
“Does anyone here believe we should carry out His Highness’s orders?”
”…”
No one answered.
Of course, stepping forward would mean executing the Caliph’s orders, and no one was foolish enough to do that.
With the number of people condemning the Caliph growing daily, executing them would be unthinkable.
“But we can’t openly defy the Caliph’s orders, can we?”
”…That’s true, but following them is even more nonsensical.”
“Abdallah, how is the situation in Andalusia? I’ve heard it’s the most severe.”
“Don’t even ask. It’s a nightmare. Something’s off.”
“What do you mean?”
Abdallah shivered as if recalling a chilling memory.
“Rumors are spreading faster than they did in the homeland. The events of the Jerusalem Council are being distorted to suggest severe conflict between the Caliph and the Prophet. It’s as if someone is deliberately spreading these rumors.”
“Could it be the work of the Leon and Portuguese?”
“I don’t think so. They’re preoccupied elsewhere… So, I have no idea who it could be.”
Whether a third party was instigating the Almohad’s division or if it was a natural progression was still unclear.
But one thing was certain.
“You all heard, didn’t you? The Caliph seems intent on openly denying the Prophet.”
“Whew, it seems like the blood’s rushing to his head right now. But if this leaks out, there’ll be even more people up in arms.”
Abdallah clicked his tongue softly, observing the reactions of the caliph’s inner circle.
By now, everyone had a hunch about what was happening.
Even if the Muwahhid didn’t know, it was clear that An-Nasir was as good as finished.
There had been a faint glimmer of hope until today, but the moment the order was given to crush all dissidents, the point of no return had been crossed.
So, what should those below do now?
Just because the king was charging headlong off a cliff didn’t mean they had to follow him over the edge.
No matter how close they were as brothers, Abdallah had no intention of joining in his brother’s madness.
“If I stay tied to a caliph who’s lost the people’s trust and the support of the religious leaders, it could harm me too. If I can discreetly remove him… wait, could I be the next caliph?”
An-Nasir had a son, but with the caliph disgracing himself like this, could a normal succession even happen?
If he seized the opportunity, becoming caliph might not just be a dream.
And Abdallah wasn’t the only one with such thoughts.
“If I can oust the current caliph, the next spot could be mine. Is there a good way to do it? Abdallah seems to be thinking along the same lines.”
Al-Wahid, the brother of the late caliph Yaqub al-Mansur, glanced at Abdallah, who was leading the meeting, calculating his next move.
If they could just remove the caliph and block the hereditary succession, the position would be open to anyone.
But between the current caliph’s brother and the former caliph’s brother, the former had a slight edge.
Abdallah’s recognition was still a bit higher, which was troubling.
To overturn this, he needed to build a strong base, but doing so quickly was unrealistic.
“Wait, I don’t need to build my own power base, do I? If I’m lacking strength, I can just borrow it.”
Muwahhid bordered a nation that was gaining strength by the day.
If he could bring them into the fold, achieving his goal might be straightforward.
“Saladin would surely see my potential. Yes! This is the way.”
Building an empire might take a century, but it could crumble in just a year.
Even if it was a sinking ship, he wanted to be the one steering this vast nation.
The uncontainable greed was evident in everyone’s eyes.