The Rise of the European Emperor

In the evening, Marin turned around and found the small hotel where Manuel Pariologos was staying...

After most of the property of the Pariologos family was swindled away by Alexander VI, life was very embarrassing. Manuel was ordered by his brother to come to Spain to discuss selling the throne, and the funds were also very tight. And because there is no land, Spain does not regard Manuel as a normal diplomatic envoy. Therefore, Manuel can only go to a small hotel by himself, and cannot enjoy the treatment of foreign guest hotels...

When Marin found Manuel, he saw His Highness Manuel nibbling on a piece of brown bread and drinking from a poor quality clay bowl... Obviously, His Highness Manuel was not doing well. A noble robe is also worn out...

Seeing a visitor coming, Manuel hurriedly hid the black bread and the broken bowl of drinking water behind the table, lest anyone see his embarrassment...

Marin didn't care, but saluted:

"Good evening, Your Highness Manuel!"

Manuel was a little stunned...

I don't know how long it has been, someone will pay him a noble salute and call him His Royal Highness...

In Rome, although his older brother was recognized as Emperor of Eastern Rome. But in fact, the monarchs of Western Europe just hoped to use Andres Pariologos to get an excuse to send troops into Byzantium, not to respect the Andres Pariologos family.

Even Pope Alexander VI, who was once highly respected by the Pariologos family, ignored them after defrauding most of their wealth.

In Rome, the Pariologos family sold the mansion they bought when they fled to Rome and moved into a small courtyard in a civilian area. Now, the nominal Byzantine emperor Andres Pariologos is ill and has no money to treat, so he has to sell his imperial power...

Therefore, when Marin solemnly saluted him and addressed him as His Highness, Manuel Pariologos was at a loss for a while...

However, he was educated by aristocrats since childhood. After Manuel reacted, he warmly invited Marin to take a seat - sitting on a dirty hotel bench...

Marin was not so pretentious, he sat down directly, and then introduced himself. Then, Marin began to ask questions about the throne business...

"What? Mr. Marin is interested? This... looks like..." Manuel felt that Marin was a little bit over his head, and the little earl dared to buy the throne. If someone found out, they wouldn't be beaten to death by the group...

"Don't get me wrong, Your Highness, how dare I buy the throne? I asked for my Majesty..."

"Your Majesty Maximilian?"

"Yes, you know, Your Majesty, he has not come to Rome to be crowned yet, and he is not an official emperor. If he buys your Byzantine throne, he will directly become an official Roman emperor..."

In fact, strictly speaking, the Eastern Roman Empire is the direct lineage of the Roman Empire. Because, starting with Constantine I, the Roman Empire has actually moved to Constantinople. Of course, it was later divided into Western Rome. But the Western Roman Empire was destroyed by the Goths, and it was not very legal for the Pope to grant Charlemagne the Roman throne. The inheritance of Eastern Rome is consistent and orthodox.

If Maximilian I formally purchased the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire and went to Rome to be crowned, it would be equivalent to the reunification of the Roman Empire. Moreover, when externally, it can also be officially called His Majesty the Emperor, not the King of Germany.

Manuel also knew about Maximilian I, because he had not negotiated with Rome in terms of interests. Until now, Maximilian I has not been able to come to Rome to be crowned. In particular, with the alliance between Alexander VI and King Louis XII of France, the chances of Maximilian I going to Rome for his coronation were even more remote.

Therefore, Maximilian I was indeed a potential big buyer...

but,

What Manuel hesitated was that he had already come to Spain and expressed his intention to sell the throne and territorial rights to the Spanish twin kings. If you regret it at this time, it is easy to offend people.

Marin said dismissively that Spain is actually not very interested in the illusory throne. However, they are interested in competing for hegemony in North Africa. Therefore, it is better to authorize Spain to rule North Africa, even if Spain does not pay. Anyway, Spain just lacks an excuse to send troops.

As long as Andres Pariologos insisted that Morocco and Algeria were the provinces of the Byzantine Empire, and then authorized Spain to occupy and rule, the two kings of Spain would be happy...

Sure enough, when Manuel asked to see the Spanish kings the next day, he changed the sale of the throne to the transfer of the right to rule in North Africa. In fact, in the late period of the Byzantine Empire, North Africa could not be controlled for a long time. But who cares, the two kings of Spain, all they want is an excuse to send troops.

If North Africa was granted to Spain in the name of the Eastern Roman Empire, it would indeed arouse their interest. Ferdinand II and Elizabeth I were really interested.

However, the couple were misers and sent Manuel away with only a token 500 gold coins...

Then, with Marin, Manuel went to Rome by boat, intending to interview Andres Pariologos about purchasing the throne for Maximilian I...

When he arrived in Rome, Marin looked at the residence of the Ampario Logos family, which was indeed extremely shabby. And Andres Pariologos was also lying on the bed, weak. Marin hurriedly asked the accompanying Mongolian doctor Batel to diagnose and treat the pulse of Andres Pariologos, and prescribed medicine. However, many herbs are Eastern European herbs and need to be taken in East Friesland (some people have been sent to Eastern Europe to buy them before). But after diagnosis and treatment, Andres Pariologos is not in danger for the time being. Wait until the herbs are delivered, take a few medicines, and you will get better...

Andres Pariologos finally agreed to Marin's purchase intention, but the emperor needed to negotiate with him about the specific price. After Andres Pariologos took medicine and his condition improved, he planned to go to Austria to interview the emperor about related matters.

And Marin, as an intermediary, rushed to the palace of the emperor in Innsbruck, Austria, and reported the situation:

"Your Majesty, I have brought you the whole throne back, do you want it?" After arriving in Innsbruck, Marin said such a thoughtless remark, which made Maximilian I stunned for a long time...