Episode 229
After a brief business trip, Philippe II returned to Paris, his eloquence as sharp as ever.
“I heard about what happened in the Holy Roman Empire. It ended in quite an intriguing way, didn’t it?”
“Indeed, it did.”
“These days, everyone from scholars to nobles is buzzing about it. I’ve been so bombarded with questions that it’s exhausting. Haha.”
“I can imagine. You already have so much on your plate, Your Majesty.”
It was a comment that might have made anyone else flinch, but Philippe II simply brushed it off with his usual amiable smile.
“So, can I take your trip to the Holy Roman Empire as an endorsement of my actions?”
“It seems you have no intention of denying it.”
“Why would I do something so foolish? It’s not like I could hide it even if I wanted to.”
As Philippe II pointed out, there was no need to use the network of assassins in Western Europe. No matter how much secrecy was attempted, the prying eyes of bishops and the loose tongues of nobles eager to curry favor made it impossible to keep anything under wraps. Naturally, I was aware of Philippe II’s ambitions regarding Andalusia.
With reports pouring in from all sides, pretending ignorance would have been more challenging.
“Your honesty is refreshing. I have no intention of intervening. If you were to start an outright war, that would be a different story, but your approach this time was quite unexpected.”
“Hahaha…”
“Did you start preparing right after the Council of Jerusalem? The timing seems too perfect otherwise.”
“To be honest, yes. But the one who stands to gain the most from this chaos isn’t me, but the Sultan of Ayyubid, don’t you think?”
It’s amusing to hear someone planning to swallow Andalusia whole claim to be holding back, but he’s not entirely wrong. Saladin seems to be working on turning all of North Africa into Ayyubid territory.
“It’s only natural for those who predicted the fall of the Almohads and prepared thoroughly to reap the rewards. But you do realize there will be friction with the Iberian states, right? Ayyubid and France are in different situations.”
“Of course, I’ve considered that.”
The Iberian states, eager to complete the Reconquista, had no interest in North Africa. Their goal was to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula, not to plant their flags in Africa.
“I don’t think you acted without a plan. So, how do you intend to negotiate with the other countries?”
“I’ll handle everything by the book, in accordance with the natural order.”
“If you’re following the natural order, shouldn’t you respect the Iberian states?”
Did the meaning of “natural order” change without me knowing? Philippe II nodded with a vague smile, perhaps feeling a bit awkward about his own words.
“Of course, I respect the struggles they’ve endured. In that regard, I have a question for you, Prophet. Do you see any country in the Iberian Peninsula that can claim legitimate sovereignty?”
Ah, so that’s what he’s getting at. It’s a typical Philippe II strategy.
“At the moment, there’s no single country that stands out. Unless the Visigothic Kingdom were to miraculously reappear.”
“I thought you’d say that. As you mentioned, the Iberian Peninsula has been divided for too long to have a rightful owner.”
“So, you’re interpreting it as France having a right to step in without issue. I wonder how the other countries will take that.”
“If you permit, I’ll personally negotiate with the Iberian monarchs. It will be a peaceful meeting without any bloodshed, as long as you grace us with your presence.”
“Let me be clear, no matter how close I am to Philippe II, I have no intention of siding with France. You understand that, right?”
“Of course. Just create the opportunity, and I’ll ensure everything is resolved peacefully.”
With Philippe II’s confident response, I had nothing more to say. Perhaps his maneuvering has minimized the chaos. Without any prior preparation, who knows what bloody conflict might have erupted over the power vacuum in southern Iberia after the fall of the Almohads.
It might be wishful thinking, but if the more capable party gains more, I have no reason to object. Of course, if Philippe II ends up humiliated by the Iberian kings, that’s his problem, not mine. My role is simply to provide a platform for peaceful debate.
Honestly, I’m a bit curious to see what kind of rhetoric Philippe II will use to sway the neighboring countries. The Iberian kings won’t easily give up the southern territories they’ve long desired, so it should be quite a spectacle.
I feel full already, even without having eaten.
Two weeks after Philippe II set sail for Andalusia, news from North Africa reached Western Europe, making everyone acutely aware of the situation. The ominous clouds rolling in from the sea seemed more than just a storm; they hinted at the fall of a once-great dynasty and the chaos to follow.
The European nations, momentarily distracted, were blindsided by the unexpected news.
Rebellions erupt across the Almohad territories.
The Caliph loses control over the provinces. Western emirs join the Ayyubid.
Al-Wahid declares the Caliph’s orders as religious persecution and formally requests protection from the Ayyubid Sultan.
Contrary to the saying that a wealthy family lasts three years even in ruin, the Almohads didn’t last three months. The Iberian states, realizing the gravity of the situation, hastily convened emergency meetings.
Though the Almohads hadn’t officially fallen, it was clear they couldn’t manage affairs across the sea.
“Now is the time for the Reconquista… No, to protect the true faith from the heretics! It’s our chance to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula.”
“This isn’t a war; it’s a mission to restore stability. If the southern peninsula falls into chaos, it will inevitably affect us, so we must act swiftly.”
It was indeed the perfect opportunity to march south and expand their territories. However, the northern Iberian kingdoms couldn’t mobilize their armies as quickly as they hoped. With no southern adversary to unite against, the situation had changed.
Five northern kingdoms—Portugal, León, Castile, Navarre, and Aragon—were all eyeing the opportunity. With the Almohads effectively gone, any advance would mean territorial gains. But if one kingdom moved too aggressively, it would reduce the spoils for the others, leading to mutual restraint.
They likely thought they could amicably divide the land among themselves. The five kings decided to hold a meeting to discuss how to partition the former Almohad territories before deploying their forces.
But their complacency was shattered by another shocking development.
”…?”
“Who surrendered to whom?”
From here to there was supposed to be Portugal’s. From there to over there was Castile’s. The leaders of the five kingdoms, who had been drawing lines on maps, couldn’t believe the news at first. It was too absurd.
Why would the Andalusian governorate surrender to the French? And why was France suddenly involved in this chaos? The speed of France’s actions was baffling. They must have predicted the Almohads’ internal collapse and prepared accordingly.
The kingdoms of León and Castile scrambled to gather information, but the conclusion remained unchanged.
The Andalusian governorate declares independence from the Almohads and aligns with France.
It is suspected that there was a secret agreement between the Andalusian governor and the French king.
“What kind of nonsense is this?”
“After all the blood we’ve shed for the Reconquista, how can a third party just swoop in and take it all? This is unacceptable!”
“Indeed! We must unite and condemn France for this!”
“Exactly. Let’s issue a formal statement denouncing France, united as the five kingdoms.”
Despite their previous disagreements over territorial division, the northern kingdoms quickly united in their condemnation of France.
The Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon quickly took action.
The young King Ferdinand III of Castile immediately drafted dozens of protest letters and sent them to France. Similarly, the newly crowned King James I of Aragon dispatched an official envoy to lodge a formal complaint with the French.
“Isn’t this just blatant French aggression? If France had fought alongside us in the past, I might understand. But what is this? They’re just reaping the fruits of our hard labor.”
“It seems there’s been a misunderstanding.”
King Philip II of France, who received the Aragonese envoys with a leisurely demeanor, appeared more sympathetic than guilty.
“A misunderstanding? Are you saying France hasn’t occupied Andalusia?”
“Of course not. We didn’t occupy Andalusia; we entered at the official request of the governing authority there.”
“Are you saying they invited you? That they willingly surrendered their land to be ruled by France? I’m sorry, but that’s hard for us to believe…”
“Belief is subjective. What’s important are the objective facts. I understand your country’s situation and can imagine how you must feel. Ignoring this wouldn’t be right.”
Philip II paused, pretending to ponder, then continued with a glint in his eye as if struck by a brilliant idea.
“How about this? Since everyone has something to say about this situation, I’ll personally meet with your representatives. The prophet’s domain is conveniently located in the middle, so it should be a suitable meeting place.”
“Are you serious?”
Logically, with five nations feeling betrayed by France, any meeting would naturally pit France against the other five.
The envoys couldn’t help but wonder if Andalusia had indeed surrendered first, given Philip’s confident demeanor.
Philip II savored the bewildered expressions of the Aragonese nobles with a subtle smile.
At first glance, the alliance of five nations might seem like a formidable force, but in reality, it wasn’t so simple.
Two of those nations had reacted impulsively, sending envoys in a heated rush as soon as the issue arose.
There’s nothing more entertaining or easier to manipulate than opponents who wear their emotions on their sleeves before even meeting.
In this world, there was only one person Philip II couldn’t sway with his silver tongue.
With everyone else, he was confident he could steer the outcome to his liking.