The Pale and the Purple Rose
- Thread starter Kellan Sullivan
- Start date
because we're already at February/March 1472, Margaret is born in April 1472, and if Liz was in sanctuary, that meant no sleepovers. Even if Edward was her husband. Plus, the conception of OTL Maggie would be in the second week of July 1471 (assuming she was full-term) when Edward IV was up north (near York) fighting at the time, with no time to slip down to London for a quickie. Ergo, no Maggie.
Also, if I let her live, I need to find a husband for her. And I'm already struggling for grooms for Edward IV's surviving daughters.
Lastly, it's to cut down on the amount of people named Margaret (Margaret d'Anjou, Margaret Beaufort, the other Margaret of York in Burgundy, Margaret Nevill, etc etc etc)
I wonder if he had a lot of kids
Agreed. It could have drowned an annoying brother perfectly well
oh?
the irony being that Liz herself was fond of Malmesy wine, hence why Clarence's drowning in it was blamed on her for its usage (rather than Edward IV)
His name was just very similar to Walder Frey from GoT hahah
Svatba v Máji, do Roka Máry [1]
Soundtrack: Leu Chansoneta
April 1472
*Milan* *we see the city once more en fête for the arrival of the newly appointed nuncio to Prague, Rinaldo Orsini* *the seventeen-year-old nuncio is received with all due honours by the suffragan bishop, Giovanni Arcimboldo [2]*
*cut to Orsini out hunting with the duke, Giuliano de Medici, Manuele Palaiologos and Francesco d'Este* *clearly d'Este and Giuliano haven't kissed and made up yet, since both are studiously ignoring one another*
*cut to the four riding out of Milan in procession*
Duke of Milan: *to his retainer as he watches them leave* thank God my part in this farce is over. Another week and I'd have gone as mad as the king of England.
*cut to them making camp* *night*
Giuliano: so the pope didn't even give you a crown to crown the king with, Rinaldo? That seems...disappointing. We go all that way and you must just say *solemn tone, using his wine cup to gesture* in nomine patris, et filii et spiritu sancti. Amen
Manuele: the Bohemian kings already have a crown. No need for the pope to send another one.
Giuliano: but it was sullied by heretics. You heard Doge Mocenigo. When they crowned King George.
Manuele: heretics touching a crown does not take away the sanctity of the crown. One day, when my brother is crowned as caesar in Constantinople, it will make little difference if there is truth to what I have heard the sultan himself has a fancy to wearing it. It will be blessed and deemed purified. [3]
Giuliano: *loudly* ah, our own sultan makes his entry *looks at Francesco d'Este who's clearly irritated by having to join them*
Rinaldo: shouldn't he be shorter? I have heard the sultan is short. Or at least, in a turban and twirly-whirly shoes.
Giuliano, Manuele: *laughing as Francesco sits down huffily*
Manuele: *chuckling* well, he certainly behaves as if he has the sultan's scimitar up his arse.
Francesco: *muttering* I cannot believe that you dragged me with on this...this...goose chase.
Giuliano: it's as much a sacrifice for us as it is for you, don't worry.
Rinaldo: besides, from what Bishop Arcimboldi told me, when Cardinal Nardini returns from Burgundy, you will be an embarrassment to the duke. And we all saw what he did to your uncle, Duke Borso, when it was inconvenient for him.
Francesco: they were the king of France's allies.
Rinaldo: then if the duke didn't, the king did. I have heard that he is in the habit of removing...obstacles. Look at how he poisoned the comte d'Armagnac after they captured Lectoure.
Francesco: that is justified. The Armagnacs are no friends to the king of France.
Rinaldo: was it justified that he poisoned the countess to kill the child in her womb as well? What crime did an unborn child commit to be worthy of such a justification. Per the letters from Cardinal Borgia, it is only a stroke of good fortune that the countess herself was saved.
Francesco: Borgia probably poisoned her himself. I've heard that he cavorts with all sorts of whores, poisoners and necromancers-
Rinaldo: Cardinal Borgia is many things, Signore Francesco, I assure you, but not even his worst enemies in Rome can accuse him of being an unnatural father.
Giuliano: *laughing* just a natural one. He has three bastards already-
Rinaldo: by Roman standards, that makes him practically as chaste as the Virgin Mary.
Francesco: so aside from this stupid coronation that you, Medici, are willing to serve as an errand boy, what is Orsini's reason. He crowns the king and then?
Rinaldo: not just crowning the king.
*all three perk up*
Rinaldo: I am to continue on to Krakow- to the king of Poland- to deliver a dispensation. Two actually.
Francesco: to what end?
Rinaldo: the king wishes for his son and heir to marry one of the marquis of Mantua's daughters [4]-
Francesco: what concern is that of the pope?
Rinaldo: they are cousins through the lady's mother, the princess of Bavaria, and the queen of Poland's grandmother. Not to mention that the marquis' wife is the niece of the elector of Brandenburg who was formerly engaged to the king's sister. His Majesty is erring on the side of caution as he wishes for no accusations of illegitimacy to be made.
Giuliano: *lying back* there is a large part of me grateful that we Medici are not bothered by such trivialities.
Francesco: *witheringly* yes...you insist on riding the finest horses or having dogs with pedigrees, but when it comes to your children...you marry anywhere.
Giuliano: *eyes half closed* at least we marry our women, Franceschetto. Not like you d'Este. How many bastards did your father and grandfather leave, anyway? It seems they had them like most men have pets.
Rinaldo: *raising voice before another argument can erupt* there's another reason as well. The request arrived from the king of France as I was about to leave Rome.
Manuele: and that is?
Rinaldo: since Madame de Chambes has...gone to wherever we go when we die. Heaven, hell, purgatory...a hole in the ground that leads to become food for worms- his Majesty is most eager to prevent his brother from once more entering into an..."unsuitable attachment".
Manuele: I thought he is to marry King George's daughter?
Rinaldo: she is the "unsuitable attachment" of which the king speaks.
*the other three perk up*
Rinaldo: the queen of France is with child once more. The king hopes for a boy, but should worst come to worst and it is either a girl or stillborn- like so many of his children have been- then that would mean that the king of Bohemia is a heart-beat away from the throne. He feels that his brother would do better marrying elsewhere. For the undesirable event that he should be called to the throne of France.
*fade to black*
[1] Czech saying that roughly equates to the English "marry in May, rue the day". It warns that a girl who marries in May will either be dead or a widow within the year (at least that's my understanding of it). While it is only April, the fact of the matter remains they still need to get to Prague for the coronation
[2] why Arcimboldo and not the actual bishop? Because the archbishop of Milan, Stefano Nardini, is currently scurrying between Charles the Bold and Louis XI. Charles despised Nardini, feeling him too biased towards Louis
[3] I have no idea if this is true. But these aren't theologians discussing it
[4] specifically Barbara or Paola Gonzaga. Casimir IV was looking at both as a potential bride for St. Casimir around this time OTL
April 1472
*Milan* *we see the city once more en fête for the arrival of the newly appointed nuncio to Prague, Rinaldo Orsini* *the seventeen-year-old nuncio is received with all due honours by the suffragan bishop, Giovanni Arcimboldo [2]*
*cut to Orsini out hunting with the duke, Giuliano de Medici, Manuele Palaiologos and Francesco d'Este* *clearly d'Este and Giuliano haven't kissed and made up yet, since both are studiously ignoring one another*
*cut to the four riding out of Milan in procession*
Duke of Milan: *to his retainer as he watches them leave* thank God my part in this farce is over. Another week and I'd have gone as mad as the king of England.
*cut to them making camp* *night*
Giuliano: so the pope didn't even give you a crown to crown the king with, Rinaldo? That seems...disappointing. We go all that way and you must just say *solemn tone, using his wine cup to gesture* in nomine patris, et filii et spiritu sancti. Amen
Manuele: the Bohemian kings already have a crown. No need for the pope to send another one.
Giuliano: but it was sullied by heretics. You heard Doge Mocenigo. When they crowned King George.
Manuele: heretics touching a crown does not take away the sanctity of the crown. One day, when my brother is crowned as caesar in Constantinople, it will make little difference if there is truth to what I have heard the sultan himself has a fancy to wearing it. It will be blessed and deemed purified. [3]
Giuliano: *loudly* ah, our own sultan makes his entry *looks at Francesco d'Este who's clearly irritated by having to join them*
Rinaldo: shouldn't he be shorter? I have heard the sultan is short. Or at least, in a turban and twirly-whirly shoes.
Giuliano, Manuele: *laughing as Francesco sits down huffily*
Manuele: *chuckling* well, he certainly behaves as if he has the sultan's scimitar up his arse.
Francesco: *muttering* I cannot believe that you dragged me with on this...this...goose chase.
Giuliano: it's as much a sacrifice for us as it is for you, don't worry.
Rinaldo: besides, from what Bishop Arcimboldi told me, when Cardinal Nardini returns from Burgundy, you will be an embarrassment to the duke. And we all saw what he did to your uncle, Duke Borso, when it was inconvenient for him.
Francesco: they were the king of France's allies.
Rinaldo: then if the duke didn't, the king did. I have heard that he is in the habit of removing...obstacles. Look at how he poisoned the comte d'Armagnac after they captured Lectoure.
Francesco: that is justified. The Armagnacs are no friends to the king of France.
Rinaldo: was it justified that he poisoned the countess to kill the child in her womb as well? What crime did an unborn child commit to be worthy of such a justification. Per the letters from Cardinal Borgia, it is only a stroke of good fortune that the countess herself was saved.
Francesco: Borgia probably poisoned her himself. I've heard that he cavorts with all sorts of whores, poisoners and necromancers-
Rinaldo: Cardinal Borgia is many things, Signore Francesco, I assure you, but not even his worst enemies in Rome can accuse him of being an unnatural father.
Giuliano: *laughing* just a natural one. He has three bastards already-
Rinaldo: by Roman standards, that makes him practically as chaste as the Virgin Mary.
Francesco: so aside from this stupid coronation that you, Medici, are willing to serve as an errand boy, what is Orsini's reason. He crowns the king and then?
Rinaldo: not just crowning the king.
*all three perk up*
Rinaldo: I am to continue on to Krakow- to the king of Poland- to deliver a dispensation. Two actually.
Francesco: to what end?
Rinaldo: the king wishes for his son and heir to marry one of the marquis of Mantua's daughters [4]-
Francesco: what concern is that of the pope?
Rinaldo: they are cousins through the lady's mother, the princess of Bavaria, and the queen of Poland's grandmother. Not to mention that the marquis' wife is the niece of the elector of Brandenburg who was formerly engaged to the king's sister. His Majesty is erring on the side of caution as he wishes for no accusations of illegitimacy to be made.
Giuliano: *lying back* there is a large part of me grateful that we Medici are not bothered by such trivialities.
Francesco: *witheringly* yes...you insist on riding the finest horses or having dogs with pedigrees, but when it comes to your children...you marry anywhere.
Giuliano: *eyes half closed* at least we marry our women, Franceschetto. Not like you d'Este. How many bastards did your father and grandfather leave, anyway? It seems they had them like most men have pets.
Rinaldo: *raising voice before another argument can erupt* there's another reason as well. The request arrived from the king of France as I was about to leave Rome.
Manuele: and that is?
Rinaldo: since Madame de Chambes has...gone to wherever we go when we die. Heaven, hell, purgatory...a hole in the ground that leads to become food for worms- his Majesty is most eager to prevent his brother from once more entering into an..."unsuitable attachment".
Manuele: I thought he is to marry King George's daughter?
Rinaldo: she is the "unsuitable attachment" of which the king speaks.
*the other three perk up*
Rinaldo: the queen of France is with child once more. The king hopes for a boy, but should worst come to worst and it is either a girl or stillborn- like so many of his children have been- then that would mean that the king of Bohemia is a heart-beat away from the throne. He feels that his brother would do better marrying elsewhere. For the undesirable event that he should be called to the throne of France.
*fade to black*
[1] Czech saying that roughly equates to the English "marry in May, rue the day". It warns that a girl who marries in May will either be dead or a widow within the year (at least that's my understanding of it). While it is only April, the fact of the matter remains they still need to get to Prague for the coronation
[2] why Arcimboldo and not the actual bishop? Because the archbishop of Milan, Stefano Nardini, is currently scurrying between Charles the Bold and Louis XI. Charles despised Nardini, feeling him too biased towards Louis
[3] I have no idea if this is true. But these aren't theologians discussing it
[4] specifically Barbara or Paola Gonzaga. Casimir IV was looking at both as a potential bride for St. Casimir around this time OTL
Pax Romana
New
Soundtrack: Jan Dismas Zelenka - Laetatus Sum: Fiat Pax [1]
April 1472
*Exterior* *Rome* *we see papal heralds in the livery of Paul II making announcements at various points in the city* *we hear the populace's reactions to this news* *grumblings* *mutterings* *even laughter to this proclamation, followed by the poor herald being pelted with fruit and beating a hasty retreat from the marketplace*
*cut to a lone herald in front of the Palazzo Orsini* *he raps at the door*
*a pinch-faced man sticks his head out an upstairs window*
Man: what do you want?
Herald: *clearly reciting his message* the pope summons you to attend, Prince Orsini. He is attending mass at San Marco [2].
Orsini: summons me? That Venetian bastard summons a Roman?!
Herald: it is an order, your Highness
Orsini: then tell him to bring it himself! *hurls something down at the herald*
*cut to a lone herald approaching the Palazzo Colonna* *a man who looks like a fleshier version of Julius Caesar answers*
Man: yes?
Herald #2: the pope summons you to attend the Paschal Mass [3] he is celebrating at San Marco, Prince Colonna.
Colonna: he is too late. I have already heard he summoned that cunt, Orsini, first. So he may go to the papal mass. I shall attend at Santi Apostoli [4], as always. Should the pope wish to join me there, we shall be very grateful.
*slams door in herald's face*
*cut to Sant' Apostoli on the Quirinale* *we see soldiers with swords and halberds drawn up in front of the church* *they are allowing the worshippers to pass into the church without issue* *so most of the people ignore them*
*cut to a carriage with the Colonna arms boldly emblazoned on the door arriving in front of the church* *the church's priest hurries forward to receive both Prince and Princess Colonna* *after the soldiers have allowed them through, we see them once more "close ranks"* *and when the priest attempts to return, he finds his way blocked*
Prince Colonna: who are these men
A voice off-screen: these are the pope's new Swiss Guard [5], a gift to solidify cordial relations between the Swiss Confederacy and his Holiness.
Prince Colonna: *turns*
*we see a teenager on a spirited white horse [6]*
Prince Colonna: *disgustedly* Borgia
Pedro Luis Borgia [7]: *raises his hat in recognition* *bows slightly* Prince Colonna.
Prince Colonna: what is the meaning of this?
Borgia: your Highness, his Holiness felt it only worthy of your rank that he provide an escort for you to attend his mass. Otherwise, these men can be your executioners if you prefer.
*we see that the Swiss Guard have now been drawn up at the entrances to the piazza*
*cut to San Marco* *we see Borgia leading the procession of soldiers marching alongside a train of Colonnas* *they are met- in front of the church- by Napoleone Orsini and a second band of Swiss, escorting his Orsini family*
*the pope is standing on the steps of the church, awaiting to welcome the heads of both families* *both heads look at one another to see who will move first* *Borgia's horse is clearly restless* *Colonna jumps out of the way to avoid being crushed by the animal* *unfortunately, "jumping out of the way" means he's now two steps closer to his Holiness than Orsini* *and so it turns into a race between the two heads to see who will get to the pope first*
*cut to the interior of the church* *the priest is preaching a sermon, reminding the congregation of not only the "Christian peace" that was "born" on Easter Sunday, but also the peace that needs to be born in the city* *we hear him talking of "the sad condition of the Romans"* *asking "who will free this unhappy and unfortunate people from so much misery?* *he looks at the pope when asking this question* *then asks "who will restore in them hope and comfort them in their time of need?"* *again he looks to the pope* *before he continues by comparing the situation of hopelessness, during the pope's illness the previous year, to the soldiers gambling for Christ's torn garments* *comparing the plotting and scheming of "so many families" to the plotting between Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate and Herod [8]* *and that salvation came from a "son of Israel" [9]*
*exterior* *Prague* *King Charles- dressed in black- is seated at the table* *with him we see Lobkowicz, Rosenberg and one or two other men* *clearly a semblance of a council meeting*
Footman *in French, Luxembourg and Anjou [10] livery*: the emissary of his Majesty, the King of Poland and the Grand Duke of Lithuania.
*the room stutters into silence as the man enters* *then the whispers start*
Ambassador [11]: *bows* your Majesty.
Charles: *raising him* *then kissing both cheeks* to what do we owe the pleasure, Monsieur l'Ambassadeur
Ambassador: I bring the heartfelt congratulations and well-wishes of his Majesty to his brother, the king of Bohemia.
Charles: and if you will please return the sentiments and express our great love for his Majesty.
Ambassador: *bows in acknowledgement* there is a matter which his Majesty would consider an even greater expression of the love you bear with one another and a perfect means of maintaining the felicitous and prosperous relations between the courts of Poland and Bohemia
Charles: *looking at the "council"* as always, Monsieur l'Ambassadeur, we work day and night to ensure the prosperity and felicity of our realm, so we would truly be obliged to his Majesty for any guidance in this regard.
Ambassador: *turns to a lackey that is with him* *removes the cloth from what is in the servant's hands* his Majesty would propose a match with his daughter, Mademoiselle Hedwige, to further deepen the bonds between your family and his.
Charles: *looking at the portrait* and what would his Majesty's price be for this...deepening of these bonds between our families?
Ambassador: nothing more than the gratification of seeing his daughter as Queen of Bohemia. And perhaps...should God so will...also one day...queen of France.
Charles: As to queen of France...we express our most earnest hopes that my nephew will thrive and that my sister[-in-law]'s belly will produce a second hale and hearty prince for that most noble throne. *sadly* Unfortunately, for queen of Bohemia, we regret to inform the king that our election is owed to a promise we made to marry the late king's daughter, Madame Ludmille, *looks at room* and in such an instance we could not possibly entertain the notion of marrying another bride. *turns to ambassador* especially if all it gains us is his Majesty's gratitude.
*fade to black as we see several men arguing that Charles should accept a match with Ludmilla [12]*
[1] I'll admit that this is from a much later period than currently being written, but Laetatus Sum (I rejoiced) is a well-known part of Vespers. The words are translated as "let peace by thy strength and abundance in thy towers. For the sake of my brethren, and of my neighbours, I spoke peace of thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I have sought good things for thee." Plus, the singer is Polish and the composer is called the "Czech Bach", so there's that.
[2] San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio, the "Venetian" church in Rome
[3] Easter Sunday was April 7 in 1472
[4] the Colonna 'family' church from what I can find
[5] the OTL Swiss Guard was only established in 1503 under Julius II. However, towards the end of his life OTL (and no doubt heightened by his near death experience TTL), Paul II proved excessively distrustful of the Romans. @Nuraghe I did consider him establishing a "Roman Guard" of stradioti (Cimarrioti, perhaps?), but I suspect that their allegiance would be to the Palaiologhi and not the pope. And since a "Corsican Guard" would be Genovesi (Venice's sworn enemy), I don't see Paul going for that either. However, the Swiss, who with Venice, have a common enemy in the duke of Milan? That makes sense
[6] until the fall of the kingdom of the Two Sicilies OTL, it was custom for the king of Naples was obliged to "pay" the pope one white stallion annually.
[7] while Pedro Luis is only 14yo, 15 at the oldest, he was appointed as "Captain General of the Church" by Calixtus III before he died. At this point in time, the Papal Gonfaloniere (head of the army) is Federico de Montefeltro (deprived of his office in 1468 and only re-instated in 1474, meaning that his office would be exercised by his "deputy"). The army being led by a 14yo is not that crazy, since ordinarily, Borgia's "superior" (until Pius II's death in 1464) would be Antonio Piccolomini d'Aragona, Paul II neglected to fill the post, relying on Federico. And Pedro Luis was "supreme" until Sixtus IV appointed Girolamo Riario in 1471. The other Sistine appointee was Napoleone Orsini, whose absence will be explained shortly
Why is a teenager chosen? Because in a- somewhat ominous- foreshadowing of his later policy, Rodrigo Borgia had tried to secure a marriage for his son with Colonna's daughter/granddaughter). Colonna refused and there is speculation that both Colonna opposition to Alexander VI and the papal "persecution" of them was a sort of vendetta
Why send Pedro? Because if Colonna attacks, despite the fact that Borgia has an "army", he'll go down in Roman memory as "the prince who was frightened of a boy". And with the whole una brutta figura (not sure if this is a Tuscan only phenomenon or applies to all Italy) that results would mean he's remembered about as well as Giovanni Sforza
[8] Caiaphas and Annas were the high priests before whom Jesus was brought for trial. Pilate and Herod - as Roman representatives - are obviously included as metaphors for the Orsini and Colonna
[9] the Borgias were reported to be nothing more than Marranos (Spanish Jewish converts) as early as the reign of Calixtus III where the accusation is thrown at some of his family members (alongside the insult of "Catalani")
[10] it stands to reason to my mind that Charles is going to play up his Anjou/Luxembourg connections (as remote as they are) to emphasize that he's a species of "rightful" heir
[11] @Jan Olbracht @Zygmunt Stary any idea who this would be?
[12] this is Charles using some conspirator-type reverse psychology on the council. That way, he seems to want to marry Ludmilla (neglecting the fact that he hasn't yet), while the council is the one encouraging him to go with Jadwiga/Hedwige. That way, he can crouch behind "but I wanted to marry her" if her family objects to the breaking of the match. And it also keeps Lobkowicz and Rosenberg (both of whom were in favour of the Podebrady marriage) from objecting, since likely it's their rivals on the council that are supporting this match. Plus, Charles doesn't outright refuse the Poles, just says that he's "a man of his word" (how many times didn't he tell his brother that?), but also tells Kazik to "make it worth my while".
April 1472
*Exterior* *Rome* *we see papal heralds in the livery of Paul II making announcements at various points in the city* *we hear the populace's reactions to this news* *grumblings* *mutterings* *even laughter to this proclamation, followed by the poor herald being pelted with fruit and beating a hasty retreat from the marketplace*
*cut to a lone herald in front of the Palazzo Orsini* *he raps at the door*
*a pinch-faced man sticks his head out an upstairs window*
Man: what do you want?
Herald: *clearly reciting his message* the pope summons you to attend, Prince Orsini. He is attending mass at San Marco [2].
Orsini: summons me? That Venetian bastard summons a Roman?!
Herald: it is an order, your Highness
Orsini: then tell him to bring it himself! *hurls something down at the herald*
*cut to a lone herald approaching the Palazzo Colonna* *a man who looks like a fleshier version of Julius Caesar answers*
Man: yes?
Herald #2: the pope summons you to attend the Paschal Mass [3] he is celebrating at San Marco, Prince Colonna.
Colonna: he is too late. I have already heard he summoned that cunt, Orsini, first. So he may go to the papal mass. I shall attend at Santi Apostoli [4], as always. Should the pope wish to join me there, we shall be very grateful.
*slams door in herald's face*
*cut to Sant' Apostoli on the Quirinale* *we see soldiers with swords and halberds drawn up in front of the church* *they are allowing the worshippers to pass into the church without issue* *so most of the people ignore them*
*cut to a carriage with the Colonna arms boldly emblazoned on the door arriving in front of the church* *the church's priest hurries forward to receive both Prince and Princess Colonna* *after the soldiers have allowed them through, we see them once more "close ranks"* *and when the priest attempts to return, he finds his way blocked*
Prince Colonna: who are these men
A voice off-screen: these are the pope's new Swiss Guard [5], a gift to solidify cordial relations between the Swiss Confederacy and his Holiness.
Prince Colonna: *turns*
*we see a teenager on a spirited white horse [6]*
Prince Colonna: *disgustedly* Borgia
Pedro Luis Borgia [7]: *raises his hat in recognition* *bows slightly* Prince Colonna.
Prince Colonna: what is the meaning of this?
Borgia: your Highness, his Holiness felt it only worthy of your rank that he provide an escort for you to attend his mass. Otherwise, these men can be your executioners if you prefer.
*we see that the Swiss Guard have now been drawn up at the entrances to the piazza*
*cut to San Marco* *we see Borgia leading the procession of soldiers marching alongside a train of Colonnas* *they are met- in front of the church- by Napoleone Orsini and a second band of Swiss, escorting his Orsini family*
*the pope is standing on the steps of the church, awaiting to welcome the heads of both families* *both heads look at one another to see who will move first* *Borgia's horse is clearly restless* *Colonna jumps out of the way to avoid being crushed by the animal* *unfortunately, "jumping out of the way" means he's now two steps closer to his Holiness than Orsini* *and so it turns into a race between the two heads to see who will get to the pope first*
*cut to the interior of the church* *the priest is preaching a sermon, reminding the congregation of not only the "Christian peace" that was "born" on Easter Sunday, but also the peace that needs to be born in the city* *we hear him talking of "the sad condition of the Romans"* *asking "who will free this unhappy and unfortunate people from so much misery?* *he looks at the pope when asking this question* *then asks "who will restore in them hope and comfort them in their time of need?"* *again he looks to the pope* *before he continues by comparing the situation of hopelessness, during the pope's illness the previous year, to the soldiers gambling for Christ's torn garments* *comparing the plotting and scheming of "so many families" to the plotting between Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate and Herod [8]* *and that salvation came from a "son of Israel" [9]*
*exterior* *Prague* *King Charles- dressed in black- is seated at the table* *with him we see Lobkowicz, Rosenberg and one or two other men* *clearly a semblance of a council meeting*
Footman *in French, Luxembourg and Anjou [10] livery*: the emissary of his Majesty, the King of Poland and the Grand Duke of Lithuania.
*the room stutters into silence as the man enters* *then the whispers start*
Ambassador [11]: *bows* your Majesty.
Charles: *raising him* *then kissing both cheeks* to what do we owe the pleasure, Monsieur l'Ambassadeur
Ambassador: I bring the heartfelt congratulations and well-wishes of his Majesty to his brother, the king of Bohemia.
Charles: and if you will please return the sentiments and express our great love for his Majesty.
Ambassador: *bows in acknowledgement* there is a matter which his Majesty would consider an even greater expression of the love you bear with one another and a perfect means of maintaining the felicitous and prosperous relations between the courts of Poland and Bohemia
Charles: *looking at the "council"* as always, Monsieur l'Ambassadeur, we work day and night to ensure the prosperity and felicity of our realm, so we would truly be obliged to his Majesty for any guidance in this regard.
Ambassador: *turns to a lackey that is with him* *removes the cloth from what is in the servant's hands* his Majesty would propose a match with his daughter, Mademoiselle Hedwige, to further deepen the bonds between your family and his.
Charles: *looking at the portrait* and what would his Majesty's price be for this...deepening of these bonds between our families?
Ambassador: nothing more than the gratification of seeing his daughter as Queen of Bohemia. And perhaps...should God so will...also one day...queen of France.
Charles: As to queen of France...we express our most earnest hopes that my nephew will thrive and that my sister[-in-law]'s belly will produce a second hale and hearty prince for that most noble throne. *sadly* Unfortunately, for queen of Bohemia, we regret to inform the king that our election is owed to a promise we made to marry the late king's daughter, Madame Ludmille, *looks at room* and in such an instance we could not possibly entertain the notion of marrying another bride. *turns to ambassador* especially if all it gains us is his Majesty's gratitude.
*fade to black as we see several men arguing that Charles should accept a match with Ludmilla [12]*
[1] I'll admit that this is from a much later period than currently being written, but Laetatus Sum (I rejoiced) is a well-known part of Vespers. The words are translated as "let peace by thy strength and abundance in thy towers. For the sake of my brethren, and of my neighbours, I spoke peace of thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I have sought good things for thee." Plus, the singer is Polish and the composer is called the "Czech Bach", so there's that.
[2] San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio, the "Venetian" church in Rome
[3] Easter Sunday was April 7 in 1472
[4] the Colonna 'family' church from what I can find
[5] the OTL Swiss Guard was only established in 1503 under Julius II. However, towards the end of his life OTL (and no doubt heightened by his near death experience TTL), Paul II proved excessively distrustful of the Romans. @Nuraghe I did consider him establishing a "Roman Guard" of stradioti (Cimarrioti, perhaps?), but I suspect that their allegiance would be to the Palaiologhi and not the pope. And since a "Corsican Guard" would be Genovesi (Venice's sworn enemy), I don't see Paul going for that either. However, the Swiss, who with Venice, have a common enemy in the duke of Milan? That makes sense
[6] until the fall of the kingdom of the Two Sicilies OTL, it was custom for the king of Naples was obliged to "pay" the pope one white stallion annually.
[7] while Pedro Luis is only 14yo, 15 at the oldest, he was appointed as "Captain General of the Church" by Calixtus III before he died. At this point in time, the Papal Gonfaloniere (head of the army) is Federico de Montefeltro (deprived of his office in 1468 and only re-instated in 1474, meaning that his office would be exercised by his "deputy"). The army being led by a 14yo is not that crazy, since ordinarily, Borgia's "superior" (until Pius II's death in 1464) would be Antonio Piccolomini d'Aragona, Paul II neglected to fill the post, relying on Federico. And Pedro Luis was "supreme" until Sixtus IV appointed Girolamo Riario in 1471. The other Sistine appointee was Napoleone Orsini, whose absence will be explained shortly
Why is a teenager chosen? Because in a- somewhat ominous- foreshadowing of his later policy, Rodrigo Borgia had tried to secure a marriage for his son with Colonna's daughter/granddaughter). Colonna refused and there is speculation that both Colonna opposition to Alexander VI and the papal "persecution" of them was a sort of vendetta
Why send Pedro? Because if Colonna attacks, despite the fact that Borgia has an "army", he'll go down in Roman memory as "the prince who was frightened of a boy". And with the whole una brutta figura (not sure if this is a Tuscan only phenomenon or applies to all Italy) that results would mean he's remembered about as well as Giovanni Sforza
[8] Caiaphas and Annas were the high priests before whom Jesus was brought for trial. Pilate and Herod - as Roman representatives - are obviously included as metaphors for the Orsini and Colonna
[9] the Borgias were reported to be nothing more than Marranos (Spanish Jewish converts) as early as the reign of Calixtus III where the accusation is thrown at some of his family members (alongside the insult of "Catalani")
[10] it stands to reason to my mind that Charles is going to play up his Anjou/Luxembourg connections (as remote as they are) to emphasize that he's a species of "rightful" heir
[11] @Jan Olbracht @Zygmunt Stary any idea who this would be?
[12] this is Charles using some conspirator-type reverse psychology on the council. That way, he seems to want to marry Ludmilla (neglecting the fact that he hasn't yet), while the council is the one encouraging him to go with Jadwiga/Hedwige. That way, he can crouch behind "but I wanted to marry her" if her family objects to the breaking of the match. And it also keeps Lobkowicz and Rosenberg (both of whom were in favour of the Podebrady marriage) from objecting, since likely it's their rivals on the council that are supporting this match. Plus, Charles doesn't outright refuse the Poles, just says that he's "a man of his word" (how many times didn't he tell his brother that?), but also tells Kazik to "make it worth my while".
