TO: The Empire of Christian Spain
FROM: The Byzantine Empire
As it becomes apparent that the nations of Austria and Aquitaine have conspired against us, with no other motive than greed and the furthering of their own power - for they are states ruled by men of small stature, and men of small stature are always those who are most greedy - it also becomes apparent the fork in the road which has been placed before you. On one hand, you aid your friends, the Byzantine Empire, with whom you have cooperated much to ensure the peace of Europe, a peace so broken by these tyrants, and in the end have much to gain, and shall emerge sole power over the western mediterranean should we be victorious. On the other hand, you may aid your allies, perhaps stunting the growth of our Empire, yet proving no real worth to yourself. If this becomes a war of attrition, you know that though you may in the end prevail, Austria and Italy shall be broken, and your wealth shall be drained. A third road exists, the road of neutrality, but that does not have much to offer. Can you trust your allies, allies which have conspired to limit your power, and to place their own upon the foolish popery in Rome? Can you trust allies who have questioned your judgement in your decisions concerning Aragon? Can you trust your allies who, more importantly, thirst for more and more power and reside right beside you? The answer is quite apparent to us, and thus we ask you the same thing.
TO: The International Community
FROM: The Byzantine Empire
Let it be known the greed of power which is expressed by the Austrian and Aquitainian nations. Let it be known the jealousy rampant in their courts. Let it be known the abuse of their religions to further their own goals. Let it be known their inferiority. They have conspired to bring us down over our supposeded oppression of Hungary - yet there exists no oppression. The laws and religions of Hungary are enshrined in this union, and there is no abridging of the powers of the nobility or the powers of any other bodies. There is only oppression of those who would seek to destabilize our Empire. Let it be known that these nations have faced themselves against the glory that is Rome, and let it be known that when our time comes, we shall ruthlessly crush their traitorous souls.
To the gates of Vienna and Rome, we march.