BirdNES 3: When Worlds Collide

[das]

To: Ioann Vasilyevich, Grand Prince of Moscow
From: Meñli I Giray, Khan of Crimea

Your correspondence is pleasing to us. The Khan of Sarai is a weak dog and we will support your efforts in crushing him. An alliance of mutual support would serve our purposes and that of the Sublime Porte. In the season in which we hear of Muscovy's advance against the Horde, we too shall advance to dismember the bloody corpse of Sarai. We shall take the southern lands of that soon to be gone realm and leave it's northern reaches to your gracious majesty.

We are pleased to receive Your letter and are grateful for Your promise. Between Moscow and Bakhchisaray, none can resist our united might. We take it that We can count on Your personal assistance in opening negotiations with the Sultan on matters of mutual import?

 

[Birdjaguar]

We are pleased to receive Your letter and are grateful for Your promise. Between Moscow and Bakhchisaray, none can resist our united might. We take it that We can count on Your personal assistance in opening negotiations with the Sultan on matters of mutual import?

To: Ioann Vasilyevich, Grand Prince of Moscow
From: Meñli I Giray, Khan of Crimea

We are your humble servant in this matter.

 

[das]

From: Ioann Vasilyevich, Grand Prince of Moscow, Master of the Entire Rus, etc.
To: Mingirey, Khan of Crimea, etc.

[...]

Then We shall send this ambassador to accompany You when You next visit the Porte (OOC: as seen on that picture that you found, Birdjaguar ) and to present Our proposal.

---

From: Ioann Vasilyevich, Grand Prince of Moscow, Master of the Entire Rus, etc.
To: Bayezid, Sultan of the Turks, Master of the Sublime Porte, etc.

Greetings and good wishes to You, puissant ruler of Tsargrad. We hope that You are healthy and that all is well in Your domain. Please accept Our ambassador, who came here to bring You Our gifts and Our respects.

[...]

For sixteen years have We been in alliance with Your ally and retainer, the Khan of Crimea, whom We hold in inestimable respect. We fought as one with Them against many enemies that meant Us, Them and even You ill. We hold that You are therefore a friend of Our friend and a brother of Our brother, and therefore seek to become Your friend and Your brother as well, and to fight as one against any other mutual enemies that might emerge.

[...]

Word must also be said of one other matter. You are known to the entire world as a just ruler, and so was Your father, before he went to Heaven; and doubtless it was only fair and good when by the grace of God the Latin cities in Crimea, Kaffa, Tana and others, in which merchants from Our patrimony used to trade, had passed to Your father fifteen years ago. And yet, since then and even more so in recent years, We have been receiving petitions from Our merchants complaining of various obstructions, offenses and beatings to which they had been subjected in those cities and which have made it difficult and undesirable to trade in those and other cities under Your reign, to the detriment of all and the benefit of those who would desire our alliance to falter and a bitter rivalry to take its place. All say that You are a wise and just ruler, and therefore We have decided to propose a remedy for this misfortune; allow Our merchants to trade in those cities, paying all the tariffs You seek fit to enact and retain, and guarantee their protection from all harm, as You guarantee the protection of merchants from other lands; and allow them also to trade in Constantinople on the same terms and to stay in a special quarter (OOC: for a loose 15th century Russian definition of quarter) in the city granted to them by Your brilliance, as happened in the ancient times; and also, to extend Your graceful protection to all pilgrims passing from the Russian land to or through Your realm. Then what few causes for bickering there are between You and Ourselves will be eliminated, our friendship will become stronger than ever, trade will bring wealth to both our lands, and Your reputation as a wise and just ruler and a protector of the Christians in Your domain will be deservedly reinforced.

[...]

We anticipate Your reply with confidence and hope, and wish You success in all things.

 

[The Strategos]

To: His Holiness, Pope Innocent VIII
From: Humilis Servitor, Charles VIII

Your humble servant comes before you by the request of our servant, the Duke of Orleans, who asks that we intercede on his behalf, in asking for his marriage to be annulled on account of consanguinity. We are sending along with this letter our sworn statement, signed and sealed by our hand, which shows not only consanguinity, but also that he was below the age of consent when he was married. We are confident that you will do your holy duty and grant to our most noble Duke of Orleans that which he seeks.



Most Excellent Nobles of Naples,

As your most excellent King, made so by blood, confirmed so by God, we declare that any who obey the pretender Ferdinand to be guilty of treason against our person and will suffer a traitor's penalty, both in this life and the next. However, just as God is merciful, so too are we merciful. For we know that the pretender has treated the nobility with great shame, slaughtering a great many men of noble and pious stature, so causing many to fear for their lives. Thus, if you fear for your life, declare your loyalty to us, the rightful King, secretly through letter or token, and we will recognize you as true vassals. And what you acknowledged in secret, we will reward openly. But if you fear even this, flee to our bosom in Paris, and you shall be rewarded with money from our own treasury so that you may live in equal stature here as in your native homes, safe until we restore you to your proper place.

We, Charles, King of Naples and France, do solemnly declare this, swearing with our right hand on a piece of the Most Holy Lance which pierced the side of Christ.

 

[BananaLee]

To the King of France, Charles VIII
From: Il Papa Innocentus VII

The case of the Duc D'Orleans and Jeanne de France will be a highly complicated one. The papal court will meet to decide on the case, but I will have to warn you that the sworn statements of courtiers are not as strong as documentary evidence and would make this case particualrly difficult, especially when in the name of due process we must allow Jeanne de France to call upon witnesses and provide evidence.

 

[qoou]

OOC:
Italian War of 1494

Russo-Swedish War

Also, @ BirdJaguar: I might've overestimated my nobles' loyalty to me... rather than the -3 it is currently at, -5 or -4 would be much more appropriate. After all, in real life, after they tricked Janos to sign away his kingship, they did not hesitate to send him off to the middle of nowhere (close to the Ottoman border).

That, being said, IC:

From Janos Corvinus, King of Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Rama, Serbia, Lodomeria, Cumania and Bulgaria, Prince of Silesia and Luxembourg, Margrave of Moravia and Lusatia, Duke of Austria
To Maximilian I of Austria

The mighty king Janos Corvinus is willing to drop his titles of both "Prince of Luxembourg" and "Duke of Austria" to help improve relations with the Archduchy of Austria. May our states be at everlasting peace from now on!


From the Devout Janos Corvinus
To Pope Innocent VIII

I come to you with very troubling news. It seems that some of the nobles in Hungary are planning to proclaim Ladislaus of Bohemia as king. Ladislaus is a native Bohemian, and has repeatedly refused to completely carry out your Highness's orders about the Hussites. In fact, he may even be a sympathizer of the Hussites. Now, he is planning to lead a rebellion in Hungary, a stronghold of Catholicism. I urge your Highness to excommunicate this heretic; rest assured that under my rule, the Bohemian Catholic Churches will be much richer than they currently are, and by far richer than they would be under Ladislaus's rule. OOC: Respond with PM if you wish.

 

[Azale]

From: Ioann Vasilyevich, Grand Prince of Moscow, Master of the Entire Rus, etc.
To: Bayezid, Sultan of the Turks, Master of the Sublime Porte, etc.

[snip]

The methods employed in the treatment of Russian merchants is disturbing to I, as this realm is indeed renowned for it's fair treatment of all who reside within it whether temporary or permanent.
As Sultan of this land and the protector of not only the territory but the reputation of it, I agree to all of your terms.

 

[The Strategos]

To: His Holiness, Pope Innocent VIII
From: Humilis Servitor, Charles VIII

Perhaps the words of your servant were not clear enough. We ourselves have sworn that there is consanguinity and also that he was below the age of consent when he was married. Surely you are not suggesting that the Most Christian King is a liar? In France, at least, it is well known that the King is incapable of committing perjury. We know His Holiness is not so spiritually blind to accuse the King of perjury, so we eagerly await the lawful annulment that we know you will grant for our vassal.

 

[Neverwonagame3]

Joining as Naples.

 

[BananaLee]

Papal Declaration to all Christendom

Rejoice, my brothers - for our prodigal son hath returned!

The Kingdom of Naples and their King Ferdinand have come back to the Church as a supplicant with their crowns in hand to cast aside their former unChristian ways and return to the true faith.

From this day onwards, the Kingdom of Naples and King Ferdinand are reconciled to the one Catholic Church. As a gesture of mercy and belief in the redemption of even lost souls, I wish to see Ferdinand stay as King of Naples.

In the spirit of brotherhood, I would like to request the King of France to allow their prodigal brother who has returned to the True Way to stay on the throne of the Kingdom of Naples.

May this reconciliation be a harbinger for great times for all Christendom.

In the name of the one Catholic Church,

Il Papa Innocentus VIII

 

[The Strategos]

To: His Holiness, Pope Innocent VIII
From: Humilis Servitor, Charles VIII

Should we be counted among the heathen, schismatic, and all manner of heretics that we should reject a request from His Holiness? Should we be found to cry “War, War,” against our brothers? God forbid! For should not all God’s faithful children strive for peace amongst the saints of God? Therefore, even though we hold the title “King of Naples” as our birthright, we will allow Ferdinand to sit upon the throne in peace. For it would much rather please us to lose Naples and gain for us a brother. Therefore, the bells of Paris shall not cease their ringing in joy that the one who was lost has now been found. But we pray that Ferdinand be not wrathful against those nobles of Naples who sought our protection when he was estranged from the Body of Christ. But if, in the weakness of his flesh, his anger burns hot, those who it is directed against may find solace at the Court of France, if they wish it.

We, the King of France, the least among your servants writes this with our own hand. Pray for us, we pray, that the blessings of God may remain with us, both in this life and the next.

 

[fantasmo]

From Janos Corvinus, King of Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Rama, Serbia, Lodomeria, Cumania and Bulgaria, Prince of Silesia and Luxembourg, Margrave of Moravia and Lusatia, Duke of Austria
To Maximilian I of Austria

The mighty king Janos Corvinus is willing to drop his titles of both "Prince of Luxembourg" and "Duke of Austria" to help improve relations with the Archduchy of Austria. May our states be at everlasting peace from now on!

From His Majesty, Maximilian I Hapsburg, King of the Germans, Archduke of Austria, Prince of Luxembourg and Duke of Burgundy
To Janos Corvinus, King in Hungary

It is well that you should drop your claims to Hapsburg titles, Corvinus. Consider our states at peace. Do not betray this truce.

To His Holiness, Pope Innocent VIII, Bishop of Rome
From Maximilian von Hapsburg

Your Holiness,

As is the tradition of those who have come before me, I humbly seek your blessing, and I seek to be crowned as King of the Romans and Holy Roman Emperor.

Your servant,

Maximilian von Hapsburg, Archduke of Austria

 

[Neverwonagame3]

From Ferdinard of Naples
To the King of France and Naples, Charles VIII

I have repented for my sins, and I acknowledge your claim to the Kingdom of Naples. Any nobles who may have done the same are granted, to the extent I have the right to give it, unconditional pardon.

From Ferdinard of Naples
To Milan, Genoa

Given that we are now again in the fold, we humbly request to join your Mutual Protection Pact. Another member can do not harm.

 

[The Strategos]

To: Ferdinand of Naples
From: Charles VIII, Emperor of France, Brittany, Burgundy, Naples, and All Those Lands Which We Hold By Right

It pleases us greatly that you have proven to be a wise man, knowledgeable of not only true repentance, but also of more worldly things, the treatment of vassals and the resolution of claims. As such, we have deemed you worthy of being crowned by our hand King of Naples under our own beneficent Empire. If you wish you may come to us at a time and season which is convenient for you to receive your crown from our hands. However, knowing the burdens of state, we allow you to stay at your court, and we shall crown you King of Naples by proxy.

With the crown of Naples, we do also invest you in all the ancient rights and privileges of the same, save where they are abrogated by your duties as a king under the Empire. As for our part, we hereby agree to invest in Naples all the rights of being in the Empire, including rights to protection of her borders from all enemies. As such, we counsel you to withdraw your request for alliance with Milan and others. For France is your shield, why need you any others? Would you rather trust in armor made of silk, or armor made from Hephaestus’ forge? Knowing that you are a wise king, we know your answer to this before you give it.

This has been written and sealed by our own hand, the Emperor of France, Naples, and all our other territories. Let the one who loves me hearken unto my words. Sit on the throne which we have given you as a righteous man and fear God. I speak these words to you as a brother, springing from the love which I hold for you. Farewell.

 

[qoou]

From His Majesty, Maximilian I Hapsburg, King of the Germans, Archduke of Austria, Prince of Luxembourg and Duke of Burgundy
To Janos Corvinus, King in Hungary

It is well that you should drop your claims to Hapsburg titles, Corvinus. Consider our states at peace. Do not betray this truce.

Keep in mind that my dropping of those titles was an act of friendship, not some form of tribute to a state with an army less than half the size of mine. I would appreciate it if you realized this and worded your diplomacy appropriately, "Hapsburg".


From Janos I Corvinus
To Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan

You may well remember that a short while ago my father (may he rest in everlasting peace) had sought to arrange for the marriage of your daughter, Bianca Maria, to me. I would like to inquire whetever you are still interested in such a union.

 

[LightFang]

From: Henry VII, King of England
To: Ferdinand & Isabella, King and Queen of Spain

As you may well remember, our joint countries of England and Spain signed a treaty in Medina del Campo just three years prior. We agreed to a common policy regarding France and the reduction of tariffs between our countries. But, more importantly, we agreed to a third item: a marriage between Arthur Tudor and Catherine of Aragon. Unless you wish for a renegotiation for the terms of the marriage, the Infanta should be arriving in November 1501.

 

[Luckymoose]

From: Henry VII, King of England
To: Ferdinand & Isabella, King and Queen of Spain

As you may well remember, our joint countries of England and Spain signed a treaty in Medina del Campo just three years prior. We agreed to a common policy regarding France and the reduction of tariffs between our countries. But, more importantly, we agreed to a third item: a marriage between Arthur Tudor and Catherine of Aragon. Unless you wish for a renegotiation for the terms of the marriage, the Infanta should be arriving in November 1501.

TO: Henry VII, King of England
FROM: Ferdinand and Isabella, King and Queen of Spain

This agreement will be held to, Catherine will arrive as scheduled.

 

[The Strategos]

OOC: I know Bird doesn't want stories posted outside the update, but this one wouldn't fit in my orders.




Florimond Robertet to Father Pierre of Fresne, Priest

My affection for you is such that any letter is bound to seem excessively short when it is measured against my love for you; yet I am so busy serving the King and our God that even the shortest letter must appear unduly long. For as I am sure my mother told you, I have been flooded with showers of blessing and named as secretary to our Most Christian King. I confess myself surprised by His Highness, for, having been in the court for some time prior to this, I had fallen in with those rumormongers who delight in sitting in shadowed corners, hiding forked tongues behind red lips (I say this to my shame, the Lord knows the penitence I have done for my sins). For they led me to believe, through their idle words, that while Midas was given donkey ears, King Charles was given a donkey’s tongue, for they compared his speech to the braying of a donkey in all the realms of oratory that earn men’s praise. So then they called him a idiot, a fool, and worse, saying that no fountain both yield salt water and fresh so that if his speech was of a fool, it was because he was a fool.

But this, I found, was not true. Rather just as St. Paul bore in his flesh a thorn from Satan, so too does our King bear his thorn, which is a heavy tongue, prone to all manner stuttering. For surely God must have allowed this thorn to afflict him, in order that the King not fall into pride on account of his great intellect and the gloriousness of his position. But there are those when they see the letters the King sends out, suppose that I, the least of his servants write in the King’s name, for they suppose that our King is not able to cloth himself in the least bit of skill in writing. As God as my witness, this is not so. I speak the truth, of the letters with the seal of the King, I, his loyal secretary wrote none. Now I say not that I did not physically write, for it was on account of my skill with the tongue of men that I ascended into my position, and so I write in to the Lords of Christendom, in the tongue that seems best. But these words I write are not my own, but the Kings. For truly I say unto you, though the King speak not like Cicero, he writes like Virgil, as if possessed by the Corycian nymphs. But as for me, I spend my time in translation, and sending out letters and receiving them, and procuring paper and ink, and all that is necessary for a man of letters to have. But the king is good, and supplies me with the help I need, though they are all lazy, and work not as hard as they should.

I have much more to say, but my hand rebels at the forming of letters and my eyes cry out for Morpheus’ realm. Farewell, dearest Father, and kindly convey my warmest regards to those friends we hold in common.

 

[sp1023]

Vijayanagar has come to join the fray.

To the Kingdoms of Golconda; Bijapur:
From the Vijayanagar Empire:

Greetings, fellow brown people. Troubled times have come to us, our neighbors will start failing soon and perhaps there will be ursurpers to our religion making their blighted appearance.

Dare I suggest that we create a Non Aggression Pact to last for teh period of 5 turns?

 

[Birdjaguar]

Vijayanagar has come to join the fray.

To the Kingdoms of Golconda; Bijapur:
From the Vijayanagar Empire:

Greetings, fellow brown people. Troubled times have come to us, our neighbors will start failing soon and perhaps there will be ursurpers to our religion making their blighted appearance.

Dare I suggest that we create a Non Aggression Pact to last for the period of 5 turns?

To the Vijayanagar Empire:
From the Kingdoms of Golconda & Bijapur:

We would honor such an agreement amongst the three of us.