The Rise of the European Emperor

As expected by Marin, the original two barons and 5 knights on the land on the east bank of the Rhine River in the Duchy of Clifford finally agreed to Marin's acquisition.

However, in exchange for their consent, Marin also gave blood once. For example, the acquisition of real estate such as castles that the seven nobles could not take away, Marin paid a huge price.

Originally, those castles and houses were all old buildings, so they should be dealt with at the price of old houses. But now it was Marin who begged them. So, they offered -- let Marin buy it at the price of a new build...

But for this, Marin would have to pay an extra 10,000 to 20,000 gold coins. But they had a good reason - only with the money to build these castles and houses, they would be able to build something similar on the new fief. After all, being a baron and a knight also requires pomp. Buildings such as castles and knight estates (manors with simple defense functions) are also a must.

If Marin bought their real estate at market value at a depreciated amount, they might not have enough money to build a home in the new fief. After all, in this era, the finances of the nobles are generally not good. Moreover, now it is Marin who is begging them to buy this land, and the higher price is reasonable.

In addition, in order to quickly gain a foothold in the new territory, these seven noble families also took away some of the people from the original manor. These people were thugs trained by these seven noble families in the past, and they were private armies of the militia nature to maintain the rule of the nobles. When they arrived at a new place, if there were no goons to follow, these nobles would not be at ease. For this, Marin agreed.

...

After the Principality of Cliff was settled, the next step was to contact Bishop Conrad of Munster. In addition, it is necessary to send a letter to the Pope's father-in-law Julius II, asking him to cooperate with the transfer of several abbots in the western area of ​​South Münster. In addition, to operate this matter, it is necessary to bribe Bishop Conrad...

But this matter is not in a hurry, because no matter when the agreement is reached, the delivery will not be made until the end of the autumn harvest. After all, it is impossible for the grains planted in the spring to be cheap for the latecomers.

Therefore, Marin is not in a hurry to rush the land delivery now. At present, his most important thing is to go to Worms to attend the Imperial Conference with John II, Duke of Cliff.

...

Of course, Marin was not in a hurry to go to the Imperial Council and swear to seek forgiveness from the princes. His main purpose was to hope that the princes would support him in annexing the Recklinghausen area.

Although Marin and the Archbishopric of Cologne had reached an agreement, Otto III, the lord of Gomen and Schaumburg, who controlled the Recklinghausen area, was not willing to lose Recklinghausen, a place larger than his own.

Therefore, while Marin sought to exchange territory with the Duchy of Berg and Clifford, this buddy was also connecting the princes and wanted to reject Marin's forced acquisition of the Recklinghausen area. His reason was that he accepted the redemption of Recklinghausen by the Archbishopric of Cologne himself, but did not agree with Marin, a third party, to acquire the Recklinghausen area. His views were supported by many princes. Therefore, Marin needs to make a fight at this meeting.

But Marin had been prepared beforehand, and he decided that if the princes did not agree with him to forcefully buy Recklinghausen, then he would not swear not to help the Habsburgs. Only when the Imperial Council agreed to his annexation of Recklinghausen would he be willing to swear in public and put it on paper.

...

After arriving at Worms, Marin went to visit Maximilian I, who was attending the meeting as usual. His Majesty the Emperor was deeply moved, and he also knew that this time Marin was forced. However, he really hoped that Marin could send troops to help him.

However, this is Shinra's national condition - the emperor is only a great prince, and cannot control the will of other princes...

Although the Habsburg family also attracted a group of princes such as the Swabian Alliance to support him, it is a pity that his allies are too weak to fight.

Before, the state of Zurich in a small Swiss confederation beat the princes of the Swabian League to pieces. It's really impossible to count on these weak chicken allies.

Marin's combat effectiveness is very strong, but unfortunately, Marin is far away from the North Sea, and it is too far away from Austria in the south. Moreover, because its fighting power is too strong, it has caused strong unease among the princes. For this, Marin has been threatened several times by the princes.

Take this meeting as an example, the theme is that most of the German princes united, threatening Marin and swearing not to support his unification of Germany... Paralyzed, my emperor has come to the meeting, you are doing this, not beating me face to face Face?

However, Maximilian I had nothing to do. Although the Holy Roman Empire wore the gorgeous coat of "Roman Empire" and added the prefix "Holy", in fact, the Holy Roman Empire still retained the ancient Germanic chiefs' meeting system. The emperor can only be regarded as a great chief elected by a group of chiefs, and has no real power at all. Therefore, even if he knew that everyone was forcing Marin not to send troops to help him unify Germany, he could only stare blankly.

...

On July 30, the annual regular meeting of the Imperial Conference officially began. It was still the Archbishop of Mainz, Jakob, who delivered the opening speech, announcing the start of the regular session.

After chatting a few more casual topics, the princes present all turned their attention to Marin. Apparently, they were all waiting for Marlin to swear...

But Marin didn't do what they wished, and saw Marin stood up calmly, took out the prepared manuscript, cleared his throat, and said:

"Before carrying out the steps you expect, allow me to announce one thing..."

"Please speak!" Archbishop Jacob of Mainz waved.

"I have reached an agreement with the Archbishopric of Cologne, and the Archbishopric of Cologne has promised to mortgage the secular governance of the Recklinghausen area of ​​Schaumburg and sell it with me..."

"I'm against it! You're a forced buy, and you didn't take our opinion into consideration at all!" At this moment, Otto III, Earl of Schaumburg couldn't help standing up and interrupted Marin's words.

Marin laughed and said:

"Count Otto, I remember that the sovereignty of Recklinghausen belongs to the Archbishopric of Cologne, right? Strictly speaking, you are just a tenant in the Recklinghausen area. To whom the landlord wants to sell the house, the tenant has the right to object. ?"

Otto III was at a loss for words, but he was also prepared. After calming down, Otto III continued:

"The Recklinghausen area has belonged to the County of Schaumburg for more than 60 years, and the Archbishop of Cologne has not redeemed it for 60 years. Recklinghausen should belong to the County of Schaumburg. You know, according to the rules of the pawn industry, More than 60 days are considered dead, and the pawnshop has the right to permanently occupy the mortgaged property. The Archbishop of Cologne has not redeemed Recklinghausen for 60 years, and the Recklinghausen area should be regarded as a dead thing, belonging to the country of Schaumburg..."

This statement of Otto III is quite valid. In the general pawn industry, if the pawnbroker fails to redeem the pledged property within a certain period of time. Then, the pawnbroker has the right to take possession of the collateral in perpetuity...

For Otto III's view, many princes expressed support. But support Otto III, mainly secular princes. As for the religious princes, they looked at Hermann IV, Archbishop of Cologne, and waited for his statement.

Marin was also stunned by Otto III's words, but he didn't expect the other party to find this reason. But after a quick thought for a while, Marin retorted:

"Count Otto, you are talking about the pawning rules for property. The Recklinghausen area is a territory, a sovereign territory, and it cannot be easily changed. Therefore, the rules you mentioned do not apply."

"How do you know it doesn't apply?" Otto III, Earl of Schaumburg, stubbornly said.

"Then how do you know it's applicable?" Marin counterattacked in the same way.

"Anyway, I would never agree to hand over Recklinghausen."

"It's not up to you. Do you want to be a bad tenant who stays in someone else's house and refuses to leave?"

"I'm not a bad tenant. According to the rules of the pawn industry, Recklinghausen is already mine."

After Otto III finished speaking, many secular princes actually expressed their support. It seems that the other party is also a bit emboldened.

After thinking for a while, Marin suddenly laughed:

"Count Otto, you are talking about the rules of the pawn industry. Excuse me, what is that? The law? I don't remember that there is such a rule in the imperial law..."

Indeed, the legal system in this era is not perfect. The rule mentioned by Otto III is just an unspoken rule of the industry, but it has never been recognized at the legal level. Without a clear legal rule, Marin can just slam it that it's illegal...

Otto III, Count of Schaumburg, was immediately dumbfounded:

"Does this need legislation? That's what the Pawn Industry Association stipulates..."

Marlin was suddenly unhappy:

"The change of sovereignty over territory is a matter of national importance and is decided by the big nobles like us. When will the humble pawn trade associations be able to help us decide? Only the laws promulgated by the empire are the only ones for us to act. Standard. Otto-sama, please don't bring those rules between merchants to the Imperial Council. Because, we and them, are people from two worlds!"

Marin's remarks are just and righteous words without any flaws. Many princes of the Habsburg faction, as well as some neutral princes, applauded Malin's remarks.

Most of the princes present were self-reliant. Although the economic situation may not be good, most of them have high self-esteem. For those wealthy businessmen, they envy their wealth and look down on them at the same time. It seems that the only way to get back the confidence of being a noble... And this speech by Marin just makes them sound very comfortable...

At this time, Hermann IV, Archbishop of Cologne, who had been a spectator for a while, suddenly took out a piece of parchment and said:

"This is the treaty of the year, it is clearly written, it is to temporarily mortgage Recklinghausen to the Earl of Schaumburg. There seems to be no proof that the Archbishop of Cologne sold Recklinghausen to the Earl of Schaumburg. Evidence..."

In the end, this dispute, because the Schaumburg side could not come up with any legal basis, had to lose in this dispute...