883 - 935: Inactivity and Inefficiency
Jakob, despite being a well-versed scholar himself, was required to lower funding on research and scientific expeditions to placate the nobles, already unhappy at his reign. As an alternative to revolt, Jakob clearly took this option, no matter how much of the money saved went into the nobles pockets, rather than the state treasury.
As Jakobs administration began to be marred by inactivity, Norse emissaries approached Jakob with a right-of-passage agreement. Aware of the Vikings reputation as looters and pillagers, Jakob hastily declined.
Jakob continued his reign unmarried, much to the concern of his kin, but much to the delight of the eligible nobles. His cousins tried to convince him to marry just about anyone, but Jakob stubbornly refused to marry until he had found the one. In the 15th winter of his reign, Jakob, 38 years of age, thought he had found her. The King of Spain, Felipe II, having caught wind of a Germanic state to the northeast, sent out ambassadors to make contact with this new nation. One of the ambassadors was Felipes daughter, Isabella. As soon as he laid eyes on her, Jakob knew that she was the one. Throughout the entire diplomatic conference, Jakob was almost always within several yards of Isabella, quietly attempting to court her, leaving all the details, of which he usually handled himself, to his ministers. Jakob used nearly anything within his powers to win her over, from showering her with lavish gifts to even granting Isabella her own county (Unheard of for a woman at that time). Jakob, sure that his actions had made her fall in love with him, proposed marriage to her in front of his entire court and the Spanish envoy. As written in her journal (Published as
The Spanish Princess) later, Isabella was in love with Jakob, but she had already been promised to the heir to the French throne. When Isabella revealed that to everyone at the banquet Jakob had arranged as a farewell to the Spanish ambassadors, the entire crowd roared with laughter. Jakob, heartbroken and embarrassed, stormed back to his chamber, where few would ever see him again.
In Jakobs stead, the ministers oversaw the completion of his road network, one of the goals set out by his coronation speech. Also, through some shrewd land deals and marriages, his ministers saw the Bohemian region added to German rule. Jakob was rather fond of his ministers, and one in particular was great friends with Jakob. A simple lowborn with a keen skill at negotiation, Gustaf was Jakobs chief diplomat. Many in Jakobs court grew jealous of Gustafs influence with Jakob, and began a plot to remove him from power.
It would seem that their plot did not remove Gustaf from his position, but rumors spread that they instead killed Jakob. There is no solid evidence behind these claims, but, at the time of his death, Jakob was in the process of amending the laws of the Reichstag so that the ministers would be given claims to use in elections. While meaningless for the most part, as most in the ministry were landed nobles already having claims, this would give people like Gustaf the ability to run for the crown after Jakobs death. Some suspect that, having knowledge of this amendment, several courtiers plotted to kill Jakob himself before it was passed. If they did plot, it succeeded. In one of Jakobs infrequent visits outside of his chamber, he was hit on the head by a falling pot while touring the kitchen. While at first merely giving Jakob mild migraines, it would eventually escalate, first to shooting flares of pain, then to periods of unconsciousness, until Jakob eventually fell into a coma and died, three months after being hit by the pot in January of 912. He may not have succeeded in his mass Christianization projects, but he did see some of his goals achieved, including the road network he so cherished.
Jakob left no children, but several of Ludwigs children intend to run, along as some members of the aristocracy. However, Germany faces a new threat. Although their status as friend or foe is unknown, a new power to the west wishes to stake out their own claim in Europe. Batavians under Lutbert van Vlaanderen, son of Boudewijn van Vlaanderen (who unsuccessfully ran for the crown of Germany), have risen up to establish their own state. Germany will need a strong leader to handle this problem. Candidates in the Reichstag have already begun to address this issue upon Jakobs death. But this will certainly be a test for Germany. What will she do to cope with the Dutch?