A Crusader with System in the Middle Ages

However, for the ”loyal princes of the Empire,” this was not necessarily bad news—at least not for Duke Berthold of Carinthia, Duke Rudolph of Swabia, Duke Welf of Bavaria, and Otto of Notheim, the former Duke of Bavaria. They were some of the most powerful nobles in the Empire.

Each of them had, to some extent, suffered persecution at the hands of the detestable Henry IV—or at least, that was how they saw it. They had once been Henry IV’s close friends and brothers-in-law, but now they had resolved to become his enemies.

They had gathered here now to discuss the decree of excommunication, to find ways to humiliate the young Emperor, and to reclaim the lands and titles they had lost.

”If you want to snatch the crown from that little brat’s head, now is the perfect chance,” Rudolph said, breaking the silence. ”The Pope is on our side now. Be brave. You’re already sitting here, so stop dilly-dallying.”

Duke Rudolph of Swabia was the central figure of today’s meeting. If it went well, he would be the central figure of the Empire for the rest of his life.

It was no wonder he seemed a little agitated.

”So we get rid of Henry’s crown. Then who becomes King? If it’s you, Rudolph, then I object. As far as I’m concerned, you’re no different from him,” said Duke Berthold of Carinthia.

He was the oldest among them, nearly seventy, but the passage of years had done little to mellow him.

Berthold disliked Henry IV for his constant meddling, but the more important reason was that Henry had refused to grant him a promised ducal title—the very title of Duke of Swabia that Rudolph now held.

Berthold’s family had managed lands in Schwaben for generations; his entire power base was there. He had no control over the unfamiliar lands of Carinthia, where the people were in constant rebellion against him.

”Fine. Then you can pray that he loses his mind one day and grants you my title, you foolish Berthold,” Rudolph snorted coldly. ”Of course, I’d wager the nobles of Carinthia will get you killed first.”

Rudolph was the Duke of Swabia and also Henry IV’s brother-in-law.

”We must be willing to compromise. If each of us only considers his own interests, we will never defeat Henry. Berthold, I trust you came here prepared to make concessions.

So, don’t be so confrontational; it does us no good. Rudolph is a suitable candidate. Duke Magnus of Saxony has also agreed to elect him Emperor. As for the matter of Schwaben, Rudolph has already promised me he will give it proper consideration after he is crowned.” It was Welf, the youngest of them, the Duke of Bavaria, who stood up to ease the tension.

”’Merely consideration?’ That doesn’t sound very sincere,” Berthold muttered. Though he spoke softly, Rudolph, sitting right next to him, heard every word loud and clear.

”Berthold, you can’t always be thinking about land. You must give some thought to the Empire. If we let Henry continue like this, we will lose the freedoms we were born with.

A hundred years ago, not even during the time of the great Otto, did such absurd things happen! A noble Duke having to explain his privileges to some base administrative officers, to prove the legitimacy of his own rights? It’s a joke.

Truly, if someone were to ask me where my privileges come from, well, *this* is where they come from.”

As he spoke, Welf drew the longsword from his waist. He walked around the table, showing the blade to the other nobles.

It was not a formal dress sword, but an old, rusted longsword.

”I brought this sword here for a reason. My ancestor used this very blade to follow the great Otto and forge this Empire. I will use this sword to defend this Empire, including the lands my ancestors passed down and the privileges they bestowed upon me. The Emperor did not build this Empire alone; our ancestors’ deeds are part of its foundation, are they not?

Berthold, you have more experience and knowledge than any of us. You should be the wisest among us, yet you are fixated on your own interests instead of thinking about what our ancestors left for us.

This is not a rebellion. It is a rectification—a restoration of the Empire to its original state, the state it was in when the great Otto lived. Berthold, I respect you, and I know of the Zirlingen Clan’s glory, but please, show me your spirit.

Or are you expecting Henry to pull you out of that miserable place, Carinthia? He changes ducal titles like he changes his clothes, treating the great nobles of the Empire like toys. What a joke!

Our ancestors followed Otto because he conquered new lands for us. What is Henry? A man who does nothing but torment the dignitaries of the Empire? I cannot live like this any longer. And I believe neither can you.

Unless someone is willing to live like a dog. Yes, some may be willing to live like dogs, but a Duke will never submit!”

Berthold watched Welf and sighed, his earlier bitterness vanishing. ”It seems I have made a fool of myself in front of a younger man. I can support Rudolph, if he is willing to fulfill his promise. I can forget the ducal title, but I need land.”

With that, he extended his hand to Rudolph. Rudolph hesitated for a moment, somewhat reluctantly, but he finally grasped Berthold’s hand. ”I promise you, you will have what you wish.”

”I hope so,” Berthold said, looking at Rudolph.

”And what is my father-in-law’s opinion?” Welf asked, turning to Otto, who had been sitting silently to the side.

Otto was the former Duke of Bavaria. Because he had offended Henry IV, the title had ended up in the hands of his own son-in-law, Welf.

To prove his loyalty to Henry IV, this son-in-law, Welf, had even divorced Otto’s daughter.

But now, Welf was determined to oppose Henry IV at all costs. Meanwhile, he, Otto—a former enemy of Henry IV and the architect of the Saxon rebellion—was here acting as Henry IV’s envoy. The irony of it all suddenly struck Otto as rather amusing.

”I am hardly deserving of that title, Welf,” Otto said with a shrug, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. ”To be honest, I am actually here on Henry’s behalf.”

”Relax, Otto. I know you don’t want to be,” Rudolph said, patting him on the shoulder.

”No, I don’t,” Otto admitted, suddenly breathing a sigh of relief.

”I mean, when it comes to rebellion—no, sorry, *rectification*—everyone here combined doesn’t have your experience. So we need you. Besides, this isn’t your first time, or your second.

You should be an old hand at this by now,” Rudolph continued teasingly.

Otto stared back, dumbfounded.

All told, this would be Otto’s fourth rebellion.

”My lords, what have you decided?” Just then, the door opened, and a middle-aged man in grey robes entered. It was Siegfried, the Archbishop of Mainz.

He was one of the main organizers of this meeting.

”We are nearly decided. But first, we would like to hear the opinion of the bishops,” Rudolph said, speaking first.

”Only Bishop William of Utrecht agreed to excommunicate the Holy See. Although most of the bishops feel that Gregory’s actions have been too arbitrary and that the content of his church reforms is debatable.

But His Majesty Henry’s demand was simply too absurd. It would harm the holy Church, and so it was rejected. The Bishopric Council advises that His Majesty Henry should seek to resolve his excommunication through proper channels.” After reading the text from the slip of paper in his hand, Archbishop Siegfried of Mainz looked up at Rudolph.

”Excellent news. We agree with the Bishopric Council’s opinion. Henry should resolve his excommunication through proper channels. If he refuses, we will renounce our oaths of fealty and force him to submit by arms,” Rudolph declared to the Archbishop, crossing his arms over his chest.

Archbishop Siegfried of Mainz looked past Rudolph to the dukes behind him. ”Is what Duke Rudolph of Swabia says true, my lords?”

”Berthold von Zirlingen, Duke of Carinthia, concurs!”

”Welf von Este, Duke of Bavaria, concurs!”

”Otto von Nordheim, Count Notteheim and Administrative Officer of the Saxon Duchy, concurs!”

Otto had agreed almost instinctively, and regretted it the moment he did.

After the Archbishop of Mainz left the room, he said:

”Seriously, do you all have this much faith in the new Holy See? I heard this Pope hands out excommunications like they’re party favors. The new Greek Emperor was recently excommunicated by the Holy See as well.

And that Greek Emperor doesn’t even know the man.”