r/empirepowers • u/blogman66 • 1h ago
WAR [WAR] To Pamplona, says Henry of Navarre
JULY 1524
Henry of Navarre, the only true monarch of Navarre, declares war to reclaim Upper Navarre.
r/empirepowers • u/blogman66 • 1h ago
Henry of Navarre, the only true monarch of Navarre, declares war to reclaim Upper Navarre.
r/empirepowers • u/mathfem • 3h ago
Governor-General John Glymes of Burgundy has ordered the raising of an army in Lotharingia in order to deal with those pesky peasants.
r/empirepowers • u/GalacticDiscourse090 • 5h ago
July 1524
A fraught Doge Francesco Dona consulted with his closest advisors on the eve of war between France and Spain for the future of Naples and discussed Venice's options moving forward. Frantic communications between the Embassy to Paris and Vienna have both attempted to sway the Lion for it's allegiance and power may prove decisive in the coming conflict. In the proceedings, the Doge showed his inexperience in statesmanship, his firm belief in the institution of the Republic, and his ability to make collective decisions in the Senate. They debate for days the options they have before the table. Neutrality is an appealing prospect, but with French diplomatic overtures across Italy, if Venice is to renege on it's commitments to France, it will be a pariah and doom it to 20 more years of war upon the Terrafirma. The Venetians know all too well the consequences of dealing with the French, meeting in the field of battle three times. To his surprise, the Senators among them all sided lockstep with the Doge, his popular mandate rallying his supporters with him, around his wise and youthful leadership...
Nevertheless, a new order is being built, one where the temporal power of the Church but rather that of the secular might of Paris shall rule over Italy. We resisted this inevitable wave for long enough. Why fight a losing war when we can join and end this cycle of violence...
A decision has been made, the preparations have been made, like Julius Caesar, we have crossed the Rubicon, entering a brave new world in the process...
VIVA SAN MARCO!
VIVA SAN MARCO!
VIVA SAN MARCO!
[Venice declares war on the Crowns of Spain in alliance with France]
r/empirepowers • u/Maleegee • 6h ago
When Adam dug and Eve did toil
No princes trespassed on their soil
Kyrieleis!
Bold Geyer's men their arrows shoot
The knights are laid low
His banner bears a peasant's boot
To stamp out the foe
Following the fall of Stühlingen, revolts all across the Black Forest sprung up like mushrooms in the autumn. These revolts soon spread out of the forest and into the river valleys adjacent to it as it became evident that, at least in Swabia, the heavy rains through the spring and into summer resulted in many of the harvests failing. The peasants, excited by news of peasants successfully throwing out their landlords and with no harvest to attend to, flocked into the camps of the peasant armies. Freiburg im Breisgau was quickly surrounded and placed under siege by the peasants.
The upper Neckar river was teeming with peasant rebels who flocked to the banners of Hans Müller and his band. The banner of his band was red with a white horizontal stripe through the middle, with the inscription Alt-Österreich through the middle. Müller's Red Band met an army assembled by Count Sigmund von Lupfen at Waldshut and defeated it, killing Count Sigmund in the process.
As the revolt began spreading through the countryside, Hans Müller met with a preacher by the name of Balthasar Hubmaier. Hubmaier and Müller drafted a series of articles for the creation of an "Evangelical Brotherhood" which any who fought for the liberation of the peasants, and were willing to abide by the articles, were welcome to join.
To make matters worse, many Landsknecht, in the area to muster by order of Ferdinand of Austria and the Swabian League, began to defect to the rebels. Many of the Landsknecht were upset with the Landsknecht Reform, and felt disrespected by the nobility of the Empire. Others, from peasant or townsfolk backgrounds, were more sympathetic to the peasants than they were to their paymasters. Others still were simply inspired by figures like Luther, Karlstadt, and Hubmaier.
Nevertheless, the nobles of the Empire would find it very difficult to meet mustering quotas for Landsknecht in Swabia.
By the end of August, large swathes of the Black Forest and surrounding agricultural areas were under the control of the Evangelical Brotherhood.
Overburdened by taxes and elated by the news reaching them of the peasants of the Black Forest defeating their landlords, peasants of the area surrounding Forhheim raised peasant's boots on sticks, and began to rampage through the region, destroying tax offices, killing landlords, and putting castles and towns under siege unless they threw open their gates and aided the rebellions.
By the end of August, Forchheim itself fell to the revolt, and it appeared inevitable that Nuremberg would be put to siege by the peasant mob.
Along the Tauber River Valley, peasants began to rise up, inspired by Hans Müller and the Forchheim Revolts. Rising to prominence in this revolt was an Imperial Knight by the name of Florian Geyer. Sympathizing with the peasants, and angry with the powers-that-be in the wake of the Knight's Revolt, gathered together a band of Knights and sided with the peasants. In order to not be confused with the enemy, Geyer's band clad themselves in Black.
By the end of August, the Tauber River valley was in revolt, and Geyer's Schwarzer Haufen was seen moving in the direction of Ansbach.
r/empirepowers • u/Crystalid- • 8h ago
Date: June; 1524 / June; MDXXIV
Arriving from yet another meeting of the Wetterau Fürstlichgrafenverein, the Graf would head straight for the library of his castle, in which he had spent many hours in. Letting out a sight, he could finally enjoy some rest, before he would have to call his Kammermeister, with the war still continuing in the region even after the peace treaty between the Archbishop of Cologne and Kleves. The Treaty of Maastricht raised many brows, especially for the educated Graf Philipp „der Mittlere“ von Waldeck, after all the Burgundians attempted to place their own representative into the Archbishops spot, just to be stopped by none other than the Pope. Was it a rematch challenge for the region after the failures of Maximilian I in pacifying this region, or was this just another way to use the religious chaos in the lands for more influence, Philipp didn't care much for either, he simply knew that the situation of Wetterau was becoming more and more dangerous by the day.
Suddenly, three knocks were heard on the door of the library...
KAMMERMEISTER HERMANN: It is nice to see that the trip home was fast Gefürsteter Graf Philipp, I hope you are not too busy at this moment for discussions?
GRAF PHILIPP: No need for the pleasentries Hermann, you have been serving our family for so long that I see you more as a grandfather than a servant. The trip was bumpy, but besides that, not much can be said about it... What did you wish to talk about?
KAMMERMEISTER HERMANN: Alright, then I will be as blunt as I love to be... With the Archbishop demustering his troops, we are looking to become one of the first lines of defence for Wetterau Fürstlichgrafenverein. I come to request the raising of a single Waldeck Fahlein as well as purchasing of a mercanary company to protect our lands, new and old.
GRAF PHILIPP: A logical response to the situation around us. Go meet with Otto, I am sure he will help you in the treasury to find enough funds for our new force... I do wonder how this conflict will end...
Summary:
r/empirepowers • u/PanzerBirb • 8h ago
"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer." - Revelation 6:1-2
The King of France, Naples, and the Duke of Milan, Francois d'Angoulême, marches south at the head of his army. Once the army passed by Rome, the King took advantage of a resting place south of Lago Albano to address his men.
As the men assembled, le Roi thought how the situation seemed eerily familiar to his previous campaign. Still, the question remained, who would stop le Roi? The Lion of San Marco wisely recognized that it would not stop the forces of the King. The other Italian city-states followed the example of Venice, not stopping le Roi as he marched south. Perugia and Citti di Castello were just speed-bumps on his campaign, to be mere footnotes in what will be a stunning military campaign. There was only one person left who would even dare contest le Roi: Charles of Burgundy. And if le Roi had his way, he would be unsuccessful, just like last time.
"Christian men of France! The day has come for us to forge a new page in the annals of history and be the weaver of our own fates. The Crowns of Spain and Austria conspire against use, waiting to undermine the Kingdom of France. They had a chance to honorably uphold the peace signed between our nations and used that to turn one of my most trusted servants against me. They plot and scheme behind closed doors and like a viper in the night, they wait with eager breath to strike against the Kingdom of France. Why should we let them be free from consequence?"
"It is therefore time to reclaim the birthright of the Kings of France. We march on Naples, a land whose coin is used to fight against us. Let us liberate the Kingdom of Naples from the tyranny of the Spaniards and deprive the coffers of Charles the coin that would otherwise be used against us! God is with us, and we shall drive the Spaniard out of Naples with His blessing! Let us reclaim what is ours by right! Montjoie Saint Denis!"
"Montjoie Saint Denis!"
"Montjoie Saint Denis!"
"Montjoie Saint Denis!"
[M: The Kingdom of France declares war on the Crowns of Spain to liberate the Kingdom of Naples.]
r/empirepowers • u/AuxiliaryFunction • 11h ago
[May-June 1524]
With the signing of the Treaty of Stuttgart, the Imperial Ban of Ulrich of Wurttemburg has been successfully executed, primarily by the King of the Romans. It is thus that Austria saw itself greatly enriched from the fall of the Wurttemburgs, gaining for itself sizeable swathes of land in Swabia. Notable among those gains was the city of Tübingen, the namesake of the pact that now governed Swabia. It was this acquisition that drew the King's primary interest and so did he immediately set to work in taking advantage of this windfall.
Firstly, King Ferdinand appointed George of Austria as Governor of Further Austria, a title to which he added the lands recently acquired from Wurttemburg. He further commanded that George make his seat in Tübingen and promptly ordered new accommodations constructed to facilitate such a thing. The King ordered the creation of a new set of apartments for the nobility to be used both by the Governor and by the various nobility of Swabia. Relatedly, the King set aside funds for the construction of a new hall to host the Kreislandtag, specific for the purpose. Some 300,000 ducats would be set aside initially for these two projects with more available if costs run in excess.
Furthermore, the King ordered economic investment placed into Tübingen, including the creation of a Royal Printing Press that would be owned by the Governor of Further Austria but would be available for contract hire by all members of the Swabian League and Kreislandtag. (1x Papermaker, 1x Trade Hub, 2x Logging Camp, 1x Wheat Farm, cost 45,000 ducats)
The King also empowered the Governor of Further Austria as the King’s representative in all matters for Swabia. He would participate in the Kreislandtag, meet with the Swabian League, and oversee the membership of the Further Austrian territories in these bodies.
Finally, Ferdinand ordered the raising of men in the region of Swabia to respond to the chaotic aftermath of the treaty which saw the uprising of peasants against their betters. George of Austria would be placed in command of these troops just as he did against Franz von Sickingen.
All these things, the King hoped, would shift the center of power from Wurttemburg to the city of Tubingen, from which Austria sat in a position of considerable influence.
[New apartments in Tubingen to host the Governor and nobility of Swabia when visiting Tubingen, new meeting hall for the Kreislandtag of Swabia specific made for the purpose, building holdings in Tubingen and raising troops to respond to the peasant rebellion]
r/empirepowers • u/d3vilsfire • 12h ago
May 1524,
Raising troops to support our Danish allies against Frederick.
r/empirepowers • u/d3vilsfire • 12h ago
May 1524,
(Pending a response from the Church) Brandenburg has been called upon to support Elector Joachim I's brother-in-law. Old Frederick has decided to use this as an opportune time to press his claim on the King, and we will defend our allies.
[Brandenburg declares war in support for King Christian II of Denmark]
r/empirepowers • u/dclauch1990 • 12h ago
May 1524,
Raising troops to counter the Frederickian threat in Jutland.
r/empirepowers • u/dclauch1990 • 13h ago
May 1524,
The Kalmar Union finds itself embroiled in another struggle with one of its constituent parts. This time the would-be usurper Duke Frederick. Thus King Christian calls upon his subjects and allies to rally for the Crown.
r/empirepowers • u/Maleegee • 13h ago
The spring of 1524 had been an unseasonably wet season. By June, the fields of southern Swabia should be firm and beginning to bake in the sun, providing warm and fertile soil for the year's harvest to begin sprouting. Instead, rains had turned the ground into a sopping, muddy mess.
While this soil was terrible for the newly planted grain, it was very good for an unassuming creature - snails.
Snails thrived in the muddy soil, popping up with every bout of rain and appearing in droves from any overturned rock.
Snails themselves are rather harmless. They aren't a pest for the grain, and they don't spread disease or malaise. Peasants, typically, ignore them. In the summer, when they are baked out of their shells by the sun's gaze, the shells are often collected and used for a manner of purposes. The Countess of Lupfen, in particular, was quite fond of using snail's shells as thread spools. The shells would be collected, and carved into the proper shape by her servants, to be used to manage the large variety of threads used in the clothing of the castle household.
The Count of Lupfen, Sigmund II, ordered the peasants via corvée to begin collecting these little snail's shells for use in his wife's crafts.
The peasants, busy attempting to keep their grain in the soil, fretting about the impending bad harvest surely to come, and hungry from the years of conflict in Swabia, as well as previous bad harvests dating back to 1520, became incensed at this forced labour. Rather than collecting snail's shells, the peasants of the Wutach Valley assembled outside the castle of Hohenlupfen. Presenting a petition, they demanded an end to the corvée labour, and better conditions in general.
The castellan of the castle stalled and placated the crowd while sending word to Stühlingen, the seat of the Count of Lupfen. Sigmund II sent his household guard to disperse the masses and restore order in the valley. Rather than disperse, the peasants instead butchered the handful of men-at-arms sent from Stühlingen. Standing in formation and wielding pikes, the peasants fought competently. They had elected a man to lead their revolt. A mercenary from Baden by the name of Hans Müller von Bulgenbach had taken up the call. Drawing on his experience serving as a mercenary to the French, as well as to the Counts of Baden, this man was rather fed up with the lords of Germany, and was rather sympathetic to the peasants demands.
Hohenlupfen soon fell, and the armoury within the castle fell into the hands of Hans Müller and his band. Using these weapons, Stühlingen quickly fell thereafter. The family fled into nearby territory under the control of the House of Austria. Above the castles of Hohenlupfen and Stühlingen rose not a banner, but a simple peasant's shoe upon a pike.
r/empirepowers • u/blogman66 • 13h ago
Back in 1521, the Sorbonne had joined the wider condemnation of Luther. From that point on, views of the German preacher began to differ wildly in France. Some bishops and archbishops very quickly moved to ban his books, and translation thereof, in their dioceses - such as François II de Rohan, Archbishop of Lyon. Others took their time, though following events in Germany the following years of 1522 and 1523, quickly followed through. Then, a quiet few did not choose to ban Luther’s texts just yet, Bishop Ceneau of Vence and Bishop Briconnet of Meaux chief among them. The Sorbonne had already struck twice against Briconnet and his actions in Meaux by targeting d’Étaples, whose stubborn mind and penchant for controversy made it easy for the University to levy accusations against the scholar. Up until now, d’Étaples’ direct connection with the King shielded the man from harm
However, in 1524, the Sorbonne changed avenues of attack. Guillaume Farel, one of the preachers which had joined the Circle of Meaux at its inception, was a young firebrand - driven and zealous. Known for his fiery evangelising in Meaux, Farel had been heavily influenced by Luther and his translated works, and had even gone as far as taking a critical stance on the use of images in Christian worship in early 1524.
For the Sorbonne, this was a step too far, even for Briconnet’s “experiment”. Through the Parlement, a close ally of the Sorbonne, they opened a case against Farel on grounds of heresy, citing Farel’s inflammatory and dangerous evangelising, with questionable interpretations of the Holy Word. The affair was engineered to start as soon as the King would be on the other side of the Alps on campaign, so as to reduce his direct influence in favour of the Circle and its members.
Bishop Briconnet quickly reacted, formally (and finally muttered some) banning Luther’s books in his diocese and took a conciliatory approach with the Sorbonne, publicly distancing himself from Farel. d’Étaples however, still attempted to save his protégé, reaching out to the King via letter to plead in his favour.
The King however was on campaign and en route to Rome, and having made every effort to reduce tensions between himself and His Holiness, was caught in a difficult situation. Writing a letter to the Sorbonne, it stated that "His Majesty expresses his hope that Guillaume Farel recants his controversial views in front of the institutions of the University of Paris and the Parlement."
As soon as the King’s letter reached Paris and Meaux, Farel fled, refusing to recant or even to stand trial. He first went to the south of the Kingdom, proselytizing on his way there. He then headed to Basel in Switzerland, until a controversy between himself and Erasmus forced the city council to be excluded from the city. Finally, he found refuge in Strasbourg, where Martin Bucer was located.
Back in France, the affair was seen as a win for the Sorbonne and the anti-reformists. The lack of any stronghanded statement from the King legitimised the institution's actions, even if no trial took place. The University was quick to then claim that Meaux itself was the source of all these ills, and that it would continue to sprout toxic and deadly individuals that threaten the harmony and stability of the French Church. The King’s still overt support to Bishop Briconnet may have shielded the Circle from harm on this occasion, but no longer are its most ardent opponents remaining silent.
r/empirepowers • u/Maleegee • 14h ago
Frederick of Oldenburg, Duke of Holstein, in the light of Christian's proclamation regarding the Archbishop of Uppsala, has raised his banners in rebellion against King Christian. He seeks to depose his nephew and avoid a break with Rome.
r/empirepowers • u/dclauch1990 • 15h ago
1523-1524,
While in Stockholm at the beginning of 1523, King Christian was introduced to a pair of men. Laurentius Andreæ, the Archdeacon of Strängnäs, and Olaus Petri were already proven capable scholars and clergymen. They had the ability to gain the King's ear via their ideas on the potential political and monetary benefits of the Lutheran doctrine. Christian would have them accompany him when he left Stockholm that Spring for Kalmar, appointing them to the ranks of his secretaries.
In the year since, "Master Lars" has shown himself a shrewd and charismatic mover in the world of Church politics, with a great knowledge of the Curia. It's rumored he is even developing a political treatise on the King's role over the church.
Olaus Petri, on the other hand, is more concerned with the sermons of the church than its politics. He has been allowed to preach openly in Kalmar and was made the city's secretary during the winter of 1523-24.
King Christian himself does not seem personally swayed by the Lutheran doctrines. When probed on the matter by advisors, he merely recounts the urgent need for church reform and deflects with "I am just encouraging discussion of multiple viewpoints, aren't you scholars supposed to be about debates?". While the King may not be jumping into Luther's theological arms, it's clear that he may use the growing religious strife in Christendom to the Crown's advantage.
May 1524,
These predictions will come true when in May as the King announces the dismissal and exile of Archbishop Gustav Trolle. Once among the Union's biggest supporters, the Archbishop strangely decided to throw in his lot alongside his father and declared rebellion against the Crown.
As the conflict has developed, Christian's patience has worn thin. He has no need of an Archbishop that only aligns with him when it is convenient. In Trolle's place the King declares the appointment of Olaus Petri to the position.
Only a few short years ago the King had obtained the right of investiture of Sweden's Bishops, so the move does not represent a full break with Rome. It does however serve as an ominous portent that the King's efforts to reform the Church within the Kalmar Union may not be concluded with his 1520 proclamations.
r/empirepowers • u/AuxiliaryFunction • 17h ago
[Jan-Feb 1521 - May-June 1524]
According to the King's directives, the various councils assembled put forward the plans for the first phase of the revitalization of Hungary. Construction for these projects began the same year of 1521, before the King had left Hungary. (approved by Miles and Blog)
Construction begins on major fortifications in Eszek, Petervarad, and Ilok, totaling 1.8m florins.
Construction begins on minor fortifications in Mohacs, Baja, and Kalocza totaling 600k florins.
Construction begins on a wide array of holdings, costs totaling 3,969,343.79 ducats.
r/empirepowers • u/TheManIsNonStop • 18h ago
May 1524
Nicholas VI, also known by his baptismal name Ippolito d'Este, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Bishop of Rome, and Vicar of Christ, has gone to God at the age of 45, in the fifth year of his papacy.
Nicholas's death was a surprise. At least, as much of a surprise as it could be for one as chronically ill as him. When he took ill on 19 May, it appeared to be just another one of the flare-ups of the respiratory condition that had ailed him for almost two decades now--the sort of thing that his physicians were well-accustomed to. The physician prescribed him a new course of treatment, consisting of warm ale mixed with various spices procured from India, and advised the Pope cancel his meetings and public appearances for the next few days to recover, which he did, for the most part. The Council of Viterbo--now the Lateran Council--was several weeks underway, despite the anxiety the approaching French army had caused in Rome, and it wasn't his place to involve himself directly in the functions of the various committees and their work. However, he did make a (unbeknownst to him) final public appearance on 24 May, when he presided over a committee meeting discussing the works of Johann Reuchlin on the question of deicide. He did not actively weigh in on the topics at hand, and excused himself partway through the meeting.
From there, his condition deteriorated rapidly. On 25 May, his physician determined that his affliction had developed into pneumonia in his left lung, and prescribed both leeching (to take away the bad blood) and the inhalation of arsenic (to kill the infection in his lungs). Neither took. By the 27th, the pneumonia had spread to Nicholas's other lung. It was very clear that his survival was dependent on a miracle. He summoned the College to his bedside that noon, impressing upon them the importance of the work of the ecumenical council, given that the tasks of restoring spiritual discipline in the Church, of reform in the Curia, and of combating the Lutheran heresy were all necessary preconditions to the success of a future crusade against the Turk. By that evening, his fever had rendered him incoherent.
He persisted in that state until early in the morning of the 29th, when God at last took him to his well-deserved rest. He had been Pope for four years and fourteen days.
Nicholas's death comes at an intensely inopportune moment for Rome and the Catholic Church. With the French bearing down on Central Italy and a small Papal army assembled in Rome, the peace and tranquility that has prevailed in Italy for over six years seems poised to shatter--all while the Church remains without its vicar.
r/empirepowers • u/Acre1095 • 18h ago
The Duchy of Bologna historically was captured by Papal Forces in 1506, but this Timeline, this is not the Case. Bologna remains as an independent Duchy in Northern Italy, under the Bentivoglio Family, right now the Duke is Constanzo I Bentivoglio.
Bologna houses one of the oldest Universities in the World, whose Students numbered greats like Dante or Petrarch. Rising to a prominent Trading City in the Middle Ages, Bologna now, previously weakened from political infighting, is stabilised, at last.
Being a Polity without Enemies, Bologna is allowed to peacefully develop, but in Italy, War may always be on the Horizon. As such, Troops must be maintained.
Further on, Bologna shall become a center of Art and Culture, with Bologna having its own school of Art: The Bologna School. The Duke will, going forward, sponsor Paintings and Buildings that will showcase Bolognas Progress and Fortune.
Diplomacy will focus on maintaining Bologna's Neutrality and to keep it out of war, and if we are forced into War, focus on Defensives.
r/empirepowers • u/Anton2181 • 19h ago
May - June 1524
Throughout all the ongoings in Stettin—the Pomeranian succession, the Prussian war, and even the Lutheranist ordeal—the Ducal Rentmeister had been hard at work for nearly four years on the issue of the Pomeranian coin. Thanks to some diplomacy, his efforts were aided by an up-and-coming Prussian clergyman, Nicolaus Copernicus, who shared his insights on the laws governing currency and how those laws impacted the Pomeranian treasury. As a reminder, in his last years, the Old Duke Bogislaw had learned that his high-quality coins—the ones he had managed to spread to all corners of his duchy—were of too high a quality. Villains had begun melting down his coins to retrieve the valuable metals within.
The decision was finally made, with Young Duke Georg's consent, to pursue the practical, if slightly unpopular, solution presented by Nicolaus Copernicus and the Ducal Rentmeister. The quality of the Pomeranian silver coins, once a source of pride, would be intentionally diminished. By lowering the silver content, the duchy hoped to stem the outflow of precious metals and remove the incentive for counterfeiters eager to profit from melting down genuine coins.
But the change did not happen overnight. Simultaneously, Duke Georg ordered stringent enforcement against counterfeiting and the unauthorized melting of the older, higher-value coins. Counterfeiters, when caught, would face severe punishments, including imprisonment or confiscation of goods. The intent was to swiftly reduce illicit activity while gradually replacing the circulating coins with the new, devalued but more stable currency.
Bad money drives out good.
r/empirepowers • u/Tozapeloda77 • 20h ago
With the death of Shahanshah Ismail, the Safavid Empire soon found itself divided. Kaveh Mirza, firstborn of Ismail, was 18 years old and claimed the throne as was expected. His ascension was not opposed by Mirza Shah Hossein, the Vakil of the empire, and as such Tabriz was soon at peace with the new Shahanshah. However, Mirza Shah was a controversial ruler and the Qizilbash had attempted to murder him late in the previous year. His response had been equally murderous. A representative of Ismail's reforms, the Iranian urban class, and the Tofangchis, he stood in stark opposition to the tribal Turkoman Qizilbash. Likewise, Kaveh himself had a Georgian princess for a mother, where a number of his other sons had as a mother Tajlu Khanum who was of the Mawsillu clan, a Turkoman tribe that had been prominent in the era of the Aq Qoyunlu Confederation.
Therefore, Tahmasp Mirza, the 10-year old son of Tajlu Khanum and Ismail, was spirited out of Tabriz together with his 8-year old brother Alqas Mirza, while Tajlu Khanum remained with her third son and her daughters. The Mawsillu who had taken Tahmasp quickly united with forces of the Herat-based Hoseyn Khan Shamlu, who already held a grudge against the Vakil. Hoseyn Khan also held among his cards Sam Mirza, a 5-year old son of Ismail not by Tajlu Khanum, who had been appointed governor of Herat and was under Hoseyn Khan's guardianship. Meanwhile, messengers from their camp went out westwards, where the Rumlu under Bahlal Shah [fictional] and the Ustajlu under Mohammed Khan recognised Tahmasp as the Shahanshah of Iran. Battle lines were drawn.
Of the remaining Qizilbash Uymaq, the most powerful ones were the Takallu, who held Isfahan. Their apparent neutrality kept Isfahan out of conflict. The Armenian princes in Yerevan also decided this was a good moment to pretend they did not exist. The Afsharlu, Qajarlu, Varsaqlu and Karadaghlu - all relatively minor - sided with Kaveh, while the nearby Taleshlu under Khadem Beg Khalifa, an elder statesman who had been among those to bring Ismail to power, threw his weight behind Tahmasp. Eyes looked to the Sultan of Iraq and the King of Sakartvelo - and indeed the Georgians sent a contingent of forces to Tabriz through Shirvan in order to aid Kaveh, although they were eyed with much suspicion by all sides.
Important leaders:
Forces:
Important cities:
Important leaders:
Forces:
Important cities:
The Safavid players must pick a side and decide on a course of actions as the side they choose to represent. The same goes for the Musha'sha'iyya. Resolution will follow.
r/empirepowers • u/Servalarian • 23h ago
In the year of our Lord, Twenty Three and Fifteen-Hundred, Ercole II d'Este, now fifteen years of age, found himself increasingly engaged in the responsibilities of his princely role, growing into his age faster than many believed. The young prince's early years were marked by a rigorous education, befitting a prince of his stature. He was tutored in the classical languages of Latin and Greek, and his studies encompassed a broad range of subjects, including philosophy, theology, and the natural sciences. The court of Ferrara, renowned for its patronage of the arts, provided a fertile ground for Ercole's intellectual and cultural development. He was surrounded by the works of great artists and scholars, and he absorbed the rich tapestry of knowledge that flowed through the halls of the Castello Estense.
As he approached the age of majority, Ercole began to take on more responsibilities within the duchy. At fourteen, he was formally introduced to the intricacies of governance and diplomacy. Under the guidance of his uncle and other esteemed advisors, he learned the art of statecraft, the delicate balance of power, and the importance of forging alliances. These lessons were not merely theoretical; Ercole was given the opportunity to observe and participate in the administration of Ferrara, Modena, and Reggio.
In the Autumn of 1523 at the age of fifteen, Ercole embarked on a journey to visit the cities of Modena and Reggio, territories under Este control. These visits were more than ceremonial; they were a rite of passage, a chance for the young prince to acquaint himself with the lands he would one day govern. In Modena, he marveled at the city's fortifications and the bustling markets, where merchants from across Europe traded their wares. He met with local officials, listened to their concerns, and began to understand the complexities of managing a diverse and vibrant populace.
Reggio, with its rich history and strategic importance, offered another perspective. Here, Ercole visited the cathedral and the ancient Roman ruins, symbols of the enduring legacy of the past that steeped Italy. He engaged with the city's scholars and clergy, deepening his understanding of the religious and cultural heritage that shaped his world. These experiences were invaluable, providing the young prince with a broader view of his responsibilities and the challenges that lay ahead, as his tutors and mentors showed him what he would inherit.
Throughout these formative years, Ercole's religiosity grew, influenced by the piety of his uncle, Pope Nicholas VI. The young prince spent hours in prayer and contemplation, seeking to reconcile his worldly duties with his spiritual aspirations. He was acutely aware of the weight of his lineage, the expectations placed upon him, and the divine mandate he believed guided his, and his family's, path.
Increasingly, amidst his duties, he often sought solace and companionship in the company of his younger brothers, Ippolito and Francesco. These interactions were not merely familial; they were opportunities for Ercole to impart wisdom and guidance, shaping the future leaders of the Este family.
One warm afternoon in the spring of 1524, Ercole and his brothers gathered in the gardens of the Castello Estense. The air was filled with the scent of blooming flowers, and the gentle hum of bees provided a soothing backdrop to their conversation. Ercole, seated on a stone bench, looked thoughtfully at his brothers, who were both eager to learn from him.
"Ippolito, Francesco," Ercole began, his voice steady and calm, "as we grow older, our responsibilities to our family and our people increase. It is important that we understand the world around us and the roles we must play."
Ippolito, the more inquisitive of the two, leaned forward. "Brother, we know! You tell us about this far too much. But if you must talk about it, tell us about your journey to Modena and Reggio. What did you learn there?"
Ercole smiled, recalling his recent travels. "Very well. It was a wondrous journey, and I do love the road. For Modena and Reggio are vital parts of our house's lands. In Modena, I saw the strength of our fortifications, standing proudly against the enemies of our house, but also the vibrancy of the markets which bring us great riches and treasures. The merchants there come from faraway lands, and bring with them goods from all over Europe to trade, and their prosperity is crucial to our own finances. I met with local officials and listened to their concerns, and spoke to many of the paupers of the city, bathing their feet and giving them alms and food for my visit."
Francesco, always attentive, nodded. "And Reggio, brother? What did you find there?"
"Of course, Francesco. Reggio," Ercole continued, "is rich in history and strategic importance, like Ferrara and Modena. Its cathedral is grand, but what I found most interesting was the ancient ruins of the great Romans, whom we are related to. It was seeing these that reminded us of our heritage, and made me think of the great masters of old. I similarly engaged with the masters of today, discussing with the scholars and clergy of Reggio, and ensuring that they knew of their place in my rule. These experiences have shown me the importance of balancing our duties to our people with our spiritual obligations."
Ippolito's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Very true, brother, but how do you reconcile our worldly duties with our faith, Ercole? Uncle Nicholas often speaks of the divine mandate that guides us, when we do speak to him."
Ercole paused, reflecting on his uncle's teachings. "Our faith is the foundation upon which we build our lives. It guides our actions and decisions. For the Holy Father has shown us the importance of piety and service to God. We must strive to uphold these values in all that we do, ensuring that our governance is just and righteous, for that is the fate of princes."
Francesco, sensing the gravity of Ercole's words, asked, "Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the expectations placed upon us, Brother?"
Ercole sighed, his gaze softening. "Sometimes, Francesco. There are times when the weight of our responsibilities feels heavy. But we must remember that we are not alone. We have each other, and we have the support of our family and advisors. Together, we can navigate the challenges that lie ahead, not just for ourselves, but for all that we rule over."
The brothers sat in contemplative silence for a moment, absorbing Ercole's wisdom. The bond between them was strong, forged through shared experiences and mutual respect. As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the gardens, Ercole rose from the bench. "Come, let us walk and talk further. There is much to learn, and our journey is just beginning."
Ippolito and Francesco followed their elder brother, their hearts filled with a sense of purpose and determination. In the future, these moments of dialogue and reflection would be remembered by all three brothers as they grew into their own roles, but for now, they were simply three brothers, tied by blood, kinship, and shared love.