The French chancellor’s confidence stemmed from the shared history of France and the Holy Roman Empire. With the divided inheritance under Louis I, ‘the Pious’, the Frankish Kingdom was fractured into three parts: East, Middle, and West Francia. After this, a history of repeated division and consolidation eventually led to the establishment of two separate entities: France and the Holy Roman Empire.
It was from this history that the basis for France’s claim to the territories of Lorraine and Alsace was created. The cycle of ‘division’ and ‘consolidation’ had resulted in immense bloodshed. Naturally, many noble houses had been culled during this process, their family lines extinguished. If one were to delve into the complex genealogies and the inheritance laws symbolized by ‘Salic Law’, it was entirely possible for someone other than the region’s current lords—someone more agreeable to France’s interests—to assert a claim of ownership.
Louis, grasping the chancellor’s underlying meaning, posed a pointed question. “Have you found suitable candidates?”
“We have our eyes on a few. However, it seems a much easier path may have opened up for us.”
At the chancellor’s reply, the eyes of both Charles VIII and Louis began to shine.
An easier path? How?
“Is such a thing possible?”
The chancellor, receiving the question, replied with a slight smile. “I am told a new religious denomination is currently in vogue in the Lorraine region.”
Hearing this, Louis glanced at Charles VIII. “The Vatican will not stand for this. And if the Vatican does not stand for it, neither will the Habsburgs.”
“Indeed…”
“No, heresy has already been declared.”
Charles VIII, who had been nodding along as the chancellor’s words followed Louis’s, let out a soft sigh and looked around at those gathered.
“Should we consider this, too, as ‘help’ from the Empire?”
***
In the process of Italian unification, the Vatican had lost its temporal power. It had forfeited all its papal and episcopal territories both inside and outside of Italy, losing everything save for a small parcel of land surrounding the Vatican and Rome. The Pope’s authority, which had been steadily fading, was left as a purely ‘religious symbol’, an existence that had to rely solely on the piety of devout Catholics.
As the authority of the Pope and the Church waned, the clerical world was forced to change. The first and most immediate change was that many high-ranking clergy members returned to secular life. Most of these men were from influential families among the Italian and European powers—often illegitimate sons or bastards. Their ascension to high clerical office had less to do with their piety and more to do with the power of their connections, especially their financial backing.
The more money their patrons spread around, the faster they could become high-ranking priests. Once they climbed the ladder to become a cardinal or a bishop, they could receive a papal state or bishopric and recoup their investment. And considering the political power that came with the title of ‘Catholic Bishop or Cardinal’, it was a rather useful investment.
However, once Rome became a ‘toothless lion’, the investment lost its value, and a significant number of high-ranking priests returned to secular life.
Another factor behind this mass secularization was that much more was now being demanded of the high clergy. This was happening in lockstep with the renewed vigor of the religious reformation. For those advocating for reform within Catholicism, the debauchery and luxury of the high clergy were excellent targets for attack.
‘Cardinals and bishops keeping mistresses and siring bastards! What a disgrace!’ ‘Are these men truly devout priests?’ ‘They must correct their conduct at once and set an example as true priests!’
Facing a barrage of criticism and demands from all sides, many simply threw off their priestly vestments and returned to the secular world.
***
Another change in Rome was a turn toward ‘conservatism’, ‘fundamentalism’, and ‘rigor’. Many of those who had advocated for Catholic reform began to deny the Pope’s authority and establish new denominations.
‘It is not the Pope that Catholics should trust and rely on, but the Bible, where the word of God is written!’ ‘Wealth accumulated through diligent and honest work is not an evil thing!’
These emerging sects, known as Protestants, denied the Pope and affirmed the legitimate accumulation of wealth, rapidly expanding their influence. As these new denominations grew, Rome was compelled to respond, assigning the task to newly appointed bishops and cardinals.
Unlike their predecessors, these new appointees were frugal, devout, and far more religious. They were also extremely dogmatic. They expelled luxury and debauchery from the Vatican and changed the atmosphere to one of frugality and piety. Intellectuals of the era and future historians would evaluate this period thusly:
‘Rome has become Sparta!’
It was the beginning of a change similar in character to the ‘Jesuits’ from the history before Hyang’s intervention. While they earned the respect of the laity by setting an example of frugality and piety, they possessed an extremely fundamentalist and dogmatic view of faith. Consequently, their gaze upon the new denominations was utterly frigid.
‘Just as Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden for succumbing to Satan’s temptation, those who believe the words of these men shall not enter heaven!’ ‘They are heretics!’
Their resolute judgment was, in a way, inevitable. The new denominations’ very denial of the Pope was, in itself, a declaration that they would not coexist with Rome.
***
“…There are several denominations spreading in Lorraine, and all have been declared heretical. At this rate, the Habsburgs cannot sit idly by.”
At the chancellor’s explanation, Charles VIII and Louis nodded. Although he hadn’t missed his chance to gulp down the bishoprics and papal lands within his own territory, Maximilian I of the Habsburgs was the Holy Roman Emperor. And another name for the Holy Roman Emperor was ‘Protector of Catholicism and the Pope’.
He could not simply leave territories that denied the Pope unchecked. Louis added to the chancellor’s words.
“Rome’s influence is one problem, but this is also a golden opportunity for the Habsburgs, one they cannot pass up. It allows them to reduce the number of noisy prince-electors, after all.”
“I see. That being the case, how should we proceed?”
At Charles VIII’s question, the chancellor looked toward Louis. Receiving the chancellor’s gaze, Louis gave a small, bitter smile and answered the King.
“It seems I must be the one to move. I shall go and inform the lords of Lorraine of how merciful Your Majesty is.”
“Even if they come over to our side, won’t war be inevitable?”
“Yes, but in return, we will have our casus belli.”
“I see… However, I expect our own cardinals will make quite a fuss.”
The chancellor stepped forward to address Charles VIII’s point. “We simply need to follow the Imperial model, Your Majesty.”
“The Imperial model?”
“As long as one abides by the laws of the nation, pays their taxes properly, and does not force their beliefs upon others, the state shall not interfere with what one chooses to believe.”
“That is acceptable.”
Charles VIII nodded and finally made his decision. “Then, Duke of Orléans, you shall go to Lorraine as quickly as possible and persuade them. The same applies to the army. We must be in Lorraine before Maximilian of the Habsburgs. Finally, Chancellor, you will meet with the officials and find a solution for the matter of war funds.”
At Charles VIII’s command, the named parties all replied in one voice. “As Your Majesty wills.”
After the meeting ended, Louis left the audience chamber and returned to his office. While preparing for his trip, he suddenly let out a snort of laughter.
“Hah! How amusing!”
“Your Grace? What do you find so amusing?”
“The Empire entrusts the operation of its research institutes and Area 51 to its Crown Prince, does it not? Under the pretext of ‘having him learn the importance of scholarship, technology, and the weight of a budget’ firsthand.”
“That is correct, Your Grace.”
“If that’s their way, then we must entrust our heir with diplomacy.”
The aides and officials mulled over Louis’s words for a moment before they, too, began to laugh. While it was a self-deprecating jest about the likely next king having to run around as a diplomatic envoy, it also hinted at another, unspoken sentiment.
‘I can’t be the only one to suffer.’
‘The Duke has certainly been thoroughly steeped in the Empire’s ways,’ his aides thought.
***
His preparations complete, Louis departed for Lorraine immediately. Upon hearing the news that the Duke of France and next in line to the throne had arrived, the lords of the region, both great and small, came to seek him out. The interesting part was that every lord who sought out Louis was a supporter of the new, emerging religions. They, too, were well aware that Rome had issued a judgment of heresy, and they fully anticipated that the Habsburgs would make a move.
Therefore, they also knew exactly why Louis had come.
“I thank you for the welcome.”
After the banquet welcoming his visit, Louis and the lords got straight to the point. In a joint conference, Louis revealed his intention: for them to come under the protection of France. However, the lords reacted very negatively to this.
France was a highly centralized nation. They were certain that if they became part of France, they would be stripped of many of their privileges.
“It is certain that the Habsburgs will not leave us be. We desperately need France’s support. However, we cannot subordinate ourselves to France for that. Regardless of anything else, we are lords of the Holy Roman Empire.”
“I see. However, the Emperor of that same Holy Roman Empire will not leave you in peace. You still wish to remain a part of it?”
“We welcome France’s help, but on this matter, our hands are tied.”
As the meeting continued to spin its wheels, Louis threw out a new proposal.
“Very well. I understand your position. In that case, I shall make a different proposal. In exchange for France’s support, we will take possession of the bishoprics in Lorraine. What do you say to that?”
“One moment. Please give us some time.”
Though the lords asked for time, their expressions were not dark.
‘The territory of those former bishoprics is quite vast, but…’ ‘They were never ours to begin with.’
The bishoprics located in the Lorraine region accounted for approximately 25% of its total area. However, the lords felt no attachment to these lands. As they themselves had said, it wasn’t their land. They were territories that had become part of the Holy Roman Empire after the unification of Italy. Furthermore, the families who had been installed as the new lords there were loyal to the Habsburgs.
Therefore, it was no loss to them if France took that land. It had ceased to be theirs when it became a bishopric, and the new lords who took over were not allies, but men who boasted of their allegiance to the Habsburgs. After a passionate discussion among themselves, the lords delivered their consensus to Louis.
“We accept the proposal. In return, we request support in the form of weapons and troops.”
“I shall inform His Majesty and see to it that support is sent as quickly as possible.”
“We are counting on you.”
***
While this agreement was being hammered out in Lorraine, Paris was in an uproar over a protest from an envoy sent by the Habsburgs.
“The Lorraine region is the territory of our Holy Roman Empire! On what authority do you enter Lorraine without even notifying us? This is a diplomatic disgrace!”
In response to the envoy’s protest, the chancellor replied with an air of utter indifference.
“Ah, that? It wasn’t a diplomatic visit. It was a personal one.”
“A personal visit?”
“The Duke of Orléans has been busy, saying he wishes to open a ‘small’ steel mill. He most likely went to Lorraine regarding that matter.”
“Hah!”
At the chancellor’s perfectly straight-faced reply, the envoy was left completely speechless.