Episode 230
The kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula were unable to immediately respond to the proposal from Philip II.
They hadn’t outright rejected it, of course.
Castile’s Ferdinand III and Aragon’s James I were quick to accept the demands.
However, Portugal’s Afonso II, Navarre’s Sancho VII, and León’s Alfonso IX felt it prudent to wait until France’s intentions were clearer.
Ferdinand III of Castile was frustrated by the cautious stance of his neighboring kingdoms.
“Fools. They’re so busy watching each other that they’ve let France score an easy victory, and now they’re hesitating again?”
Though he hadn’t been on the throne long, Ferdinand III was already considered one of the most promising rulers in Castile’s history.
To him, the kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula seemed eager to fall behind.
It was inevitable, really.
He had spent his life pursuing the Reconquista, only to see it rendered meaningless overnight.
With Islam and Christianity now united under a global religious order, the Reconquista lost its justification as a religious crusade.
Yet, despite this, the idea of sharing the Iberian Peninsula with long-time adversaries like the Almohads was intolerable.
Thus, the kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula were poised to reclaim Andalusia at the first opportunity.
Ferdinand III was no exception.
“But I never expected France to move so swiftly.”
He had heard of Philip II’s exceptional abilities before.
While most were dazzled by Richard’s bravery in the Crusades or the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI’s background, Ferdinand III knew who the real threat was.
Those who quietly secured their interests without drawing attention were the most dangerous.
Among the Christian monarchs close to the prophet Edward Marshall, Ferdinand III considered Philip II the most formidable.
The post-Crusade political landscape made it clear.
Richard had subdued the nobles, and Henry VI’s attempts at centralization had only resulted in a partial hereditary system.
Meanwhile, in France, the once numerous noble estates had largely become royal domains.
“There’s no doubt. The occupation of Andalusia wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision; it was a meticulously planned strategy. The proposal for a royal conference is surely part of that plan.”
It felt like walking into a trap, but Ferdinand III knew they had no choice.
With France already planting its flag in Andalusia, there was nothing they could do.
This wasn’t an exaggeration; it was reality.
They could grumble and curse, but they had no means to exert real pressure.
If they resorted to military action?
The Christians in Andalusia would likely see them as invaders, and it would be tantamount to declaring war on France.
Moreover, France had recently strengthened its alliance with England, and antagonizing England could be disastrous.
“Could they have considered all this when forming the alliance with England? It’s better to assume they did. Underestimating the opponent’s capabilities is never wise.”
With years of experience and insight, they might have stood a chance, but for now, the opponent was clearly a step ahead.
Fighting on the stage set by the other side would leave them with little hope of victory.
Yet, Ferdinand III was determined to lead the talks with Philip II for a clear reason.
It wasn’t because he naively believed they could win with a 5:1 advantage.
Each kingdom prioritized its own interests, and they wouldn’t unite against France.
However, no matter how quickly France moved or how skilled Philip II was, Andalusia was too vast for France to control alone.
Without a land connection, France would have to rely on ships to reach Andalusia.
“If Philip II is as I think, he wouldn’t overlook such a fact. So…”
Ferdinand III glanced at a letter from Portugal’s King Afonso II, urging close cooperation, and smiled.
Having made up his mind, he secretly summoned a messenger to deliver a letter he had personally written.
But the recipient wasn’t a fellow monarch like Afonso II or James I. It was Philip II of France, the very king they would face in the upcoming talks.
Despite the various discussions, Philip II’s proposal was ultimately accepted.
The kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula never really had the option to refuse.
The hesitant kings had to concede when Ferdinand III asked, “Are you going to raise an army and march into Andalusia?”
As Ferdinand III pointed out, they couldn’t just start a war because they were displeased.
They must have considered it, despite the global religious doctrine discouraging aggressive wars, as defensive wars weren’t entirely off the table.
However, no matter how they spun it, marching into Andalusia couldn’t be justified as a defensive action.
If the Almohads had collapsed on their own and the Andalusian governorate fell into chaos, they might have sent troops under the guise of stabilizing the border.
But with France having already seized the Andalusian governorate, there was no way to reclaim the territory without it being an act of aggression.
Other kings, having gone through similar reasoning as Ferdinand III, reluctantly agreed to the talks.
Had the meeting been in Paris, they might have sent representatives, but fortunately, it was to be held in a place revered as a holy site, where the prophet stayed during his visits to Europe.
Ferdinand III was the first to announce his intention to attend in person, followed by the other four kings.
Philip II, naturally, would also attend, resulting in a grand gathering of six monarchs.
Of course, if I refused to host the meeting, it would be canceled, but why would I pass up such an intriguing spectacle?
I immediately declared my intention to ensure the meeting proceeded smoothly.
I also contacted the Vatican to send cardinals as observers, and they promptly complied.
“Let me assure you once again, I won’t be siding with France here.”
“That’s good to hear. It would be troublesome if you refused to accept the outcome after the meeting.”
“You’re quite confident. Well, France has nothing to be ashamed of in terms of justification.”
From what I’ve observed, Philip II had no intention of negotiating with the kings of Castile or León to appease their grievances.
He wanted one thing: for the neighboring monarchs to acknowledge France’s rightful control over Andalusia.
How he planned to convince those who would jump at the chance to reclaim Andalusia was beyond me.
Though, considering his usual methods, I had some guesses…
“By the way, have you discussed this situation with England? I doubt King Richard would be pleased.”
“Ha, of course, I contacted him immediately. Given the urgency, we acted first and informed him later, but England is our closest ally, so we couldn’t ignore them.”
“King Richard isn’t one to let things slide with mere words.”
“Indeed. That’s why we’ve offered tangible benefits. England must pass through Andalusia for Mediterranean trade, and the Almohads were notoriously strict. But we won’t treat an ally like England that way. We’ve explicitly promised to treat their merchants no differently than our own.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle, imagining Richard’s reaction to Philip II’s smooth words.
Despite any anger, Richard would likely realize that accepting Philip II’s proposal was in England’s best interest.
He’d reluctantly agree, vowing never to trust Philip II again.
But human nature being what it is, similar situations would likely arise in the future.
“With Mediterranean trade set to grow, England couldn’t refuse such an offer. Ultimately, King Richard must see that France’s control of the region benefits him. Is he attending the meeting?”
“He intended to, but I advised against it. His presence might complicate matters.”
“Indeed. He might provoke unnecessary tensions.”
Even Richard wouldn’t openly pick a fight in such a setting, but if someone were to provoke him, he would never back down. He’d meet them head-on.
There are a few young and hot-blooded kings this time around, and if they get tangled up with Richard, who knows what kind of explosive synergy might occur. It’s probably best not to invite him and see how things unfold.
Meanwhile, the thought of France occupying Andalusia and controlling Britain’s access to the Mediterranean is quite unsettling…
In the original history, Britain seized Gibraltar and controlled the gateway between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The idea of France taking over that role feels strangely ironic.
“By the way, it’s not just the northern countries we need to worry about. What about the south? From the looks of things, the fall of the Almohads seems almost inevitable.”
“Saladin is likely the one orchestrating things from behind the scenes, so I have a rough idea of how it might conclude. If my predictions are correct, negotiating shouldn’t be too difficult. Saladin is a reasonable man.”
“True, but…”
I refrained from voicing my concerns about how much longer Saladin, who had already outlived his expected years, could actively manage foreign affairs. There was no need to say it out loud.