Rise of the Reichstag: A German IAAR

[CaterpillarKing]

Wooo go Konrad!

 

[baseballpie]

972 - 973: Controversy​

After Konrad shocked Germany with his adoption, not even to mention his plans for female rights, his opinion immediately took a sharp turn for the worse. His friends became few and far between. Leopold Babenberg, after his failed bid for king, became a recurring antagonist for Konrad. The Austrian spent most of his time in Berlin; always openly questioning Konrad’s every decision. It soon became nearly futile for Konrad to pass his bills of gender equality. Most historians today believe that his drive for woman’s rights emanated from the mind of his wife, Adelheid. She held somewhat of a controlling power over Konrad, and provided him with the inspiration for much of the plans he provided. In the late winter of 972, she advised Konrad to travel to France for a diplomatic conference with the French King, Phillip II. He agreed and immediately began preparing. The envoy left for France on Christmas day 972.

Meanwhile, in Rome, the newly crowned Pope Benedict VI was under pressure. Having heard of Konrad’s ambitions for woman’s rights, he was initially in favor of this change. The less accepting cardinals were staunchly in opposition. A petition to excommunicate Konrad was introduced. It had the necessary support, but Benedict would not sign it. They threatened, numerous times, to revoke his pontificate, having the majority of the Curia behind them. He initially resisted, but he could not hold out for long. It was not until a sword was held to his throat that he reluctantly agreed to sign the bill. Konrad II of Germany was excommunicated in January 973, and messengers were sent out to every corner of Christendom announcing the news.

While controversy occurred in Rome, Konrad was making headway in Paris. King Phillip was being extremely cooperative. A groundbreaking deal was about to be struck. A valuable alliance was to be made, forever strengthening the relationship between France and Germany. Phillip pledged to have his kingdom passed to Konrad upon his death. The Carolingian empire was to be once more. A lavish feast was to be had while Phillip signed the agreement. But when the German envoy attempted to enter the palace, they were denied entry. Konrad demanded to see Phillip personally to sort out this misunderstanding. However, there was no misunderstanding. Phillip himself came to the gate and told the group, “I do not negotiate with enemies of the Church.” It seemed that in the time between the announcement of the ceremony and that winter morning, a Papal messenger had arrived to tell the French monarch of the excommunication. Upon hearing the news, Phillip immediately canceled the hearings and banished the Germans.

However, Konrad had an idea. Instead of taking the long, shameful trek back to Berlin, he would send his envoy south, to Rome. Hopefully, he could negotiate with the Pope for absolution. It would require some compromise on his gender laws, but Konrad wanted to at least salvage something out of this miserable reign, because everyone knew that an excommunicated king did not stay on the crown for long. No, every pretender and his uncle tried to take the throne for their self, many normally having the support of some European kingdom.

During this time, Konrad traveled with his daughter in the royal carriage (Adelheid had remained in Berlin, ill with consumption). However, it was a treacherous journey across the Alps, especially that winter. During the pass across the Col de Tende in the Ligurian Alps, a blizzard led to severe visibility impairment. Most of the envoy trembled in fear and coldness at the weather outside. It took eight hours longer than expected to cross, and many feared that a group had been lost. Once they convoy of carriages reached the end of the pass, a headcount was ordered. Several carriages had been lost, but one loss struck home the hardest. Konrad and his daughter were not present. The chief diplomat immediately ordered that a rescue mission be launched, but the trainers could not comply. The blizzard made it nearly impossible, not to mention that the horses were much too fatigued from just recently crossing the pass. So it seemed that a blizzard had taken the newly crowned king less than six months after his crowning. It was much more convoluted than that, however; although that is a story for another day.

In the end, Konrad had actually served to unify Germany, bringing many nobles together to fight against his policies, all which were ultimately unsuccessful. While the present considers him a positive revolutionary, he was known in that period as Konrad “the Mad”, and commonly depicted in fits of lunacy. However, one problem still loomed. Who could Germany turn to?

 

[Yudishtira]

972 - 973: Controversy​

With all due respect,.... say whaaat?

If you don't like the guy people vote for, you just kill them without implementing any of their platform? Who will vote under these conditions? Why pretend this is interactive?

 

[CaterpillarKing]

I'm fine with it honestly. RT did some things like that in America. It adds variety.

 

[Spirictum]

With all due respect,.... say whaaat?

If you don't like the guy people vote for, you just kill them without implementing any of their platform? Who will vote under these conditions? Why pretend this is interactive?

It's like his interaction to the interaction itself.

Of course he can't do that a lot, but sometimes it's nice to frustrate some of the voters.

I hated when Lady Lockwood died in RT's America, but it was damn interesting.

 

[baseballpie]

With all due respect,.... say whaaat?

If you don't like the guy people vote for, you just kill them without implementing any of their platform? Who will vote under these conditions? Why pretend this is interactive?

It was already predetermined that the next candidate elected would die early. It's not because of Konrad in particular.

 

[baseballpie]

Well, I'm sorry to say this, but this story is officially: Dead. I just don't have the willpower to do any more updates on it, and the computer I was running this on just can't handle Civ anymore. With school being so hectic as it is, maybe I might start up another story. But for now, all the creative work of mine will be directed to Subida de los Conquistadores.

 

[TheNoob]

RIP It was a good story

 

[VGL]

EDIT: Never mind.
But I reached 1,100 posts

 

[DKVM]

noooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CaterpillarKing]

Awww it was fun while it lasted

 

[baseballpie]

Rise of the Reichstag will return.......

Spoiler :

And this time, things will be different....

 

[TheNoob]

DoC???

 

[DKVM]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[baseballpie]

Preface​

Louis motioned toward Drogo. He wagged a frail, weak, old finger at his half-brother to come near.

"Please," begged Drogo, "do not tell me that now is the time."

With a shallow sigh, Louis nodded in response.

Drogo came to his brother's side. The entire congregation watched as Drogo blessed the man, reciting prayers ensuring a quick passage to heaven. The priest stepped back, allowing his brother solace in his last moments. Suddenly, Louis' eyes opened wide, and he turned his neck upwards, as if straining to reach the afterlife. He let out a light cackle, knowing he had bested Satan. During his last seconds, he exclaimed, "Huz, huz!", spiting the Devil as his soul left the Earth. The entire room was silent.

Finally, after minutes of quiet mourning, Drogo spoke up. "Send a letter to Poiters," he commanded. "Tell them the Emperor is dead."

 

[CaterpillarKing]

Dun dun dunnnn