The Rise of the European Emperor

Why did Marin think that Guddendorff could be bought? Because the intelligence collected by his spies shows that Gudendorff himself, as a Swabian, has a good impression of the Habsburg family. Moreover, the reason why he fought as a mercenary was actually to revitalize the family and restore the glory of the Leixingen family.

Right now, Guddendorff only has the title of baron left, and the family territory has long since been wiped out by the ancestors, and even the ancestral castle has been sold.

Therefore, in these years, the reason why Gudendorff went to the south and the north to fight and earn money was to save enough money, and then buy a fief from the princes of Swabia as the foundation of the Leichingen family.

If you want titles and fiefdoms, in the entire Holy Roman Empire, who would have an emperor who is more qualified to confer rewards? Regardless of how poor Maximilian I was, the most he could give was the title and land.

If it is the earldom or something, it may be difficult for Maximilian I to give it. However, Maximilian I has plenty of baronies and so on. After all, as long as there are 10 small villages in a barony, it can almost be done. And Maximilian I, who owns large tracts of land in Austria and the Netherlands, can still do it with some land.

Moreover, Guddendorff still has a big problem right now, that is - at the age of 50, he has no legal heirs as heirs...

It's not that Guttendorf has no sons, but that his only son died unexpectedly 5 years ago, leaving no descendants. Subsequently, Guddendorff's wife also died of illness because of grief. After that, Guttendorf had no legal heirs, nor did his daughter.

However, Guttendorf also has three illegitimate children! This is the child of Guttendorf and a merchant's daughter, two boys and one girl, and they are not too young. The eldest son, Denton, is already 18 years old. He is currently following Gudendorf in the mercenary army and has accumulated enough prestige to take over the mercenary army in the future.

Why did he let Denton inherit his mercenary group? Because this is the only possibility for Danton, who is an illegitimate child, to become a nobleman!

Among other things, the famous Sforza family in Italy was originally just a peasant family. But relying on the mercenaries in their hands and marrying the daughter of the extinct Visconti family, the Sforza family became the ruling family of the Duchy of Milan. Although the French refused to accept it and robbed the Duchy of Milan many times, this is indeed a shortcut to becoming a nobleman!

With soldiers in hand, in the future, find a monarch to make military exploits, and the possibility of becoming a hereditary nobleman is very high!

...

It was precisely because Marin knew of Gudendorf's idea that he felt that Gudendorf could be bought. Guddendorff worked so hard, but he wanted to seek the status and fiefdom of hereditary nobles for his illegitimate son.

Maybe,

This is difficult for ordinary people, but for Maximilian I who holds the title of emperor, it is simply a piece of cake. Moreover, as the Holy Roman Emperor, the nobility conferred by Maximilian I is the most authoritative in the entire Shenluo region. Even the princes who hated the Habsburg family had to recognize the legal status of the nobles proclaimed by Maximilian I. The nobles granted by the emperor are imperial nobles, not comparable to the nobles of ordinary vassal states.

For example, Marin's Grand Duchy of the North Sea, the canonized earl, leaving the Grand Duchy of the North Sea, it is impossible for everyone to feel that they can sit on an equal footing with those earls who are princes. Because this is a self-proclaimed nobleman of the princes, and he is naturally a head shorter than the nobles of the same rank recognized by the empire.

However, the nobles conferred by Emperor Maximilian I are different. As the emperor of Shinra, the nobles he canonized are not only used by the entire Shenluo Empire, but also recognized by the whole of Europe when they go out of Shinra.

For example, France, they can not recognize Maximilian I as the Byzantine emperor, but they cannot but recognize him as the Holy Roman Emperor. As the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, the nobility conferred by Maximilian I was not only recognized within Shinra, but also traveled throughout Europe. The exceptions, of course, are pagan Turkey and the Orthodox Grand Duchy of Moscow...

As long as it is a Catholic country, Maximilian I, the nobility conferred by the crowned emperor, must be recognized.

Of course, this is the canonization of titles below the earl, and Maximilian I can come here at will, and no one cares about it. But if it reaches the level of the earl, especially the earl of the princely level, it needs the recognition of the princes of the imperial parliament. However, Maximilian I canonized a landless earl, but it did not need to be recognized by the Imperial House of Lords. The significance of the existence of the imperial court of princes is to review the status of princes. For example, at the beginning, Marin took a lot of effort to be accepted by the imperial court and become a recognized imperial prince.

But Guddendorff is different. His son Danton is just an illegitimate child. It is very difficult to even become a nobleman, and his starting point is lower than that of Marin. After all, Marin is a serious legitimate son, a son of aristocrats who is unanimously recognized.

And Guttendorf's son Danton is just an illegitimate child with no status and no rights. It is much more difficult to become a nobleman than Marin.

For Denton who has no identity, being a knight is considered good luck, and becoming a baron is simply unimaginable...

...

Therefore, Marin directly sent a letter to Maximilian I, suggesting that he send someone to secretly contact Guddendorff, promising to ensure that his illegitimate son would inherit Guddendorff's baronship and give him a fief as his barony. In this way, Guttendorf can be won over. Not to mention that Gudendorff can immediately turn against the French, but at least it can make Gudendorff attack the Müstair Valley "without effort"...

As long as the Mistel Valley is not breached, then Switzerland is safe, and the Habsburg family is also safe...

...

But I didn't expect that Maximilian I was a dead-headed man, and he refused to give the title of baron and fief easily, only willing to confer Denton as a fief knight...

Maximilian I sent someone to contact Gudendorff in this way, and Marin also received the news...

Sure enough, Guttendorf was dissatisfied with Denton being only canonized as a non-hereditary fief knight, and planned to reject Maximilian I's solicitation. After all, Guttendorf didn't want his grandson to become a commoner.

...

After Marin heard the news, he was furious. He immediately wrote and sent a letter to Maximilian I.

This time, the tone of Marin's letter was quite impolite, almost making Maximilian I sick...

Marin pointed out in the letter that Maximilian I stuck to the dogma of the past and took the title too seriously. For example, Frundsberg, who could be named an earl for his military exploits, is still only a baron, not even a viscount (deputy earl).

Moreover, the conditions offered by Maximilian I this time were too stingy. To a big boss with 16,000 mercenaries, he was only willing to give the title and territory of a fief knight.

Marin pointed out bluntly in the letter-if Gudendorff attacked with all his strength this time and invaded Switzerland, Frundsberg's army, which was attacked from both sides and back, might perish. At that time, let alone the land of Switzerland, the enemy may even take the opportunity to invade the Austrian mainland. Without Austria, the position of Emperor Maximilian I may not be able to keep...

Marin pointed out impolitely-the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire was just a position of honor, a false emperor, and had no real power. Therefore, it is the right thing for the Habsburg family to occupy more territory. If Switzerland cannot be kept, the Habsburg family is likely to be doomed. Compared with the future of the family, a mere baron is considered a P. If you are reluctant to part with a baronship and that bit of land, the Habsburg family might as well withdraw their troops from Switzerland and retreat to Austria earlier. That way, at least you can keep your money...

...

These words were too straightforward, and directly hurt Maximilian I's self-esteem. But after being annoyed, Maximilian I found sadly that Marin was right. If the Habsburg family was completely defeated on the Swiss battlefield, not only would they not be able to keep Switzerland, but the enemy would even be able to take advantage of the trend to attack the Austrian mainland. At that time, it will really be worth the candle...

Therefore, after thinking about it again and again, Maximilian I finally stopped being stingy on this point, and agreed to confer Gudendorfer's illegitimate son Denton as a baron and give him a certain fiefdom. Anyway, if Switzerland is kept, a mere barony can still be squeezed out.

Moreover, if Denton became a vassal of the Habsburg family in Switzerland. Then, Guddendorff's tens of thousands of troops will firmly stand on the emperor's side and help him guard Switzerland...

...

However, Marin did not expect that this incident allowed Maximilian I to open his mind and discover a brand new world. Then, His Majesty the Emperor was out of control. It’s true that he had no money, but later, by relying on wholesale barons and barony collars, he managed to attract many thugs and successfully gained a firm foothold in Switzerland...Of course, this is a later story...