Temple Sword

Chapter 142 The Habsburg Request

1321st of Saint Andrew's Month (November), 11

Anjou Palace, Timisoara
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Saffroned leg of lamb with bacon, venison stewed in red wine and breadcrumbs, roast capon stuffed with apples, pork poached in a sauce made of honey, pepper, ginger and cloves, foie gras roasted in its own fat, dragon Artemisia stewed wild mushrooms, sour cream, crispy fried pies, tender roast suckling pig, and a bull that has been turning on the grill from dawn to dusk, plus several barrels of good wine, beer and brandy, It constitutes the special food for the royal palace to welcome the royal guests.

Charles and his young Queen Elizabeth of Poland savored every dish carefully and sparingly, befitting their status as a royal couple.

Frederick, on the other hand, was wolfing down the food in front of him. His face was round, without any hair, and full of feminine features. Judging by his chin, the Austrian duke was a frequent victim of the crime of gluttony.

However, at the royal dinner held in his honor, Frederick did not overeat, but ate in one sitting, in order to end this tribute he did not care about as quickly as possible, and to draw Charles Anjou aside , let's talk about business.

Frederick Habsburg did not come to Timisoara to eat.

"Your Highness, we are really sorry you did not bring your wife." Elizabeth leaned forward at the crowded table and said as loudly as possible so that Frederick, who was seated to her husband's right, could hear the drumbeat. Her words were heard amid the echoes of voices, singing and bagpipes.

"Oh, I'm sure she's better off at home, my queen!" Frederick answered in his thin, high-pitched voice. "She couldn't stand the cold, and to be honest, I couldn't stand it myself.

Maybe sometime in the spring or summer we'll get a chance to enjoy the hospitality of the Hungarian royal family, but right now I just want to talk to your husband about politics, war and other men.A woman's ears can't bear this kind of thing, and it's not suitable for her..."

"It depends on which woman we're talking about." Elizabeth smiled.

"Women should not meddle in men's affairs," said the Duke of Austria, waving a hand gleaming with grease. "My visit is short, which is why I ask that we be generously excused. Once we have discussed all important things, I'll leave this cold, gray weather."

"Perhaps Vienna is warmer in St. Andrew's month than here?" Charlie interjected lightly. "Because if that's the case, it'll be me next time to enjoy your hospitality, and my knees are getting harder and harder to bear in late autumn and winter as I get older."

"Oh no, not at all!" Frederick laughed, his long curly hair dancing with the loud laughter. "The end of the year is tough for us as well, it's just that I don't like to travel around at these times.

I prefer to sit at home, curled up in the warmest corner of the palace, sitting in front of a hot fire.I hope, my dear cousin, that there will soon be an agreement between us, and that I shall not trouble you any further. "

"No, you are not causing us any trouble, Your Royal Highness," Elizabeth hastily assured her guest. "Please enjoy the dinner we have arranged just for you, maybe with a glass of wine?"

Frederick nodded, and soon another jug ​​of wine was placed on the table in front of him.He drank the wine in the glass, and the servant helped him fill it up again, and the atmosphere in the house became more and more cheerful and lively.

The nobles of the court, the wealthiest men in Timisoara, more and more carried away under the influence of drunkenness, disheveled, neglecting decency and neatness, began to dance among the tables.

The musicians played wilder and louder, and began to sing more cheerful songs under the positive response of the nobles.

"I saw wolves and foxes and hares,

I saw wolves and foxes dancing,

All three of them circled the tree;

I saw wolves and foxes and hares,

All three of them circled the tree,

All three circle around leafy shrubs.

Here, we work hard all year round,
To earn some gold coins,
And a month later,
I saw wolves and foxes and hares,

Then we have nothing,
I saw wolves, foxes, and hares..."

Frederick Habsburg finished his supper and squirmed more and more uncomfortably in his chair.Charlie thought his relatives could not wait any longer and wanted to talk to him about military matters, but it soon became apparent that there were other things bothering the Duke.

"'I saw a wolf'?" Frederick shook his head in disgust, "How could you allow such a foul song to appear in your hall?If they dare to play such provocative music in my palace, I will cut off the hands of these rascals! "

"Please, it's just music!" the king laughed, "No one minds, it's just a game, see how my nobles enjoy it!"

That's when Janos Bornemisza grabbed a woman by the waist who he didn't know where he got them, threw her on the table, tore off her shirt, and started reliving what it's like to be a baby .

Court knight Miklos Gilletfe cheered him loudly, while Stable Master Balassa ran to a large window, but it was too late, and vomit from drinking was spraying from his mouth and nose .

Someone began to berate the drunken people loudly, got a bucket out of nowhere, put him on Balasa's head, and made many people laugh until beer foamed out of their noses.

"It's shameful!" Frederick's snow-white face became even paler. "I've heard rumors that the court of the new Hungarian king is promiscuous, but I didn't expect...it turned out to be true..."

Charlie just smiled, and Elizabeth stood up gracefully, noticing that the atmosphere at the banquet was not suitable for a noble lady, she did not show the slightest surprise or offence, but calmly announced: "It's time It's getting late, I should leave."

The king got up and kissed her hand, then handed her over to the maids of honor, and Elizabeth, accompanied by them, quickly disappeared into the spacious banquet hall.

At this time Janos Bornemisza also calmed down a little, no matter how much he drank, he did not dare to take the next step in front of the ruler and other knights.

"Do you think I don't know what stupid things the Bavarians and Austrians can do after a few glasses of beer?" Charles Anjou called to his guests, as Frederick was using a small wooden basin in front of him scented with petals. clean water to wash food particles off hands and chin.

The king shook his head and changed his mind.

"It's not too late yet," he sighed, glancing at his lords who were having more and more fun and craziness. "Come on, let's go talk in the little throne room!"

After the Kingdom of Hungary and the Duke of Austria left the banquet hall, the band began singing about thieves and whores.

-

Frederick Habsburg, known as Frederick the Handsome because of his effeminate features and shawl of golden-brown hair, was 19 years old when his father, King Albrecht I of the Romans, was assassinated , and has held the title of Duke of Austria since then.

At first, he and his cousin, Louis of Bavaria, were on good terms, but their friendship turned to hostility as they clashed over ownership of Lower Bavaria.

After the death of Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor, they were both crowned on the same day.

Since then, the two one-time friends have been in constant battle with each other, not only for the throne of Germany, but also for the title of King of the Romans.Sometimes Frederick's troops invaded Louis' territory, and sometimes Louis' supporters attacked the Habsburgs.

In all these years, there was never a really big battle, a battle that could decide everything.This war has brought new conflicts every year, with both sides destroying each other's territorial property and killing each other's supporters.

In 1316, the new Pope John 22 did not let the warring parties lay down their arms. No matter how many gifts Louis and Frederick sent to the Holy See and how many envoys they sent, he did not support any of them.

Apart from the pope, the two dukes relied mainly on the help of rulers who supported them.

The number one supporter of Louis the Bavarian was John of Luxembourg, son of Henry VII, king of Bohemia, whose sister Beatrice had been queen of Charles Anjou.As a former brother-in-law, Charlie did not want to destroy the good relationship between the two dynasties because of the civil strife among the Germans.

Frederick also knew this, but Beatrice died of dystocia in 1319 and only served as Queen of Hungary for one year. He hoped to convince Charles on this basis. Of course, he had two other bargaining chips.

The tiny throne room was empty and pitch black.Although the servants lit a dozen candles, the windows were closed due to the cold weather, and the moonlight could not penetrate.This small room looked more like an interrogation room shrouded in darkness.

"Red wine?" asked the King of Hungary, filling two gold cups with the dark red liquid himself.There was no one in this corner of the castle but them and the guard standing outside the door.

"Aren't you afraid, cousin?" Frederick took the cup from Charlie.At first he was tempted to say no, as he didn't want to mix different wines in his stomach, but somehow, he asked for the wine anyway.

"What have I to be afraid of?" The King of Hungary sat on a small dais on his throne. "It's just the two of us here, over there," he nodded toward the door opposite the entrance, "directly leading to my bedroom, guarded by guards."

"But," said Frederick, sitting on a bent-legged chair, "what if I don't mean well? If I draw my dagger now, no one will have time to stop me."

Charlie smiled sincerely, his mouth full of joy.

"I'm sorry," he held up his glass apologetically, "but I don't think you can beat me."

"I'm stronger than I look," murmured the Austrian Duke, hoping that the flush of shame on his round face would not be seen in the dim room.

"I was tutored by a Templar when I was young," explains Charlie, "I don't usually brag about it, but he taught me how to use a sword and a dagger.

I know what to do if you throw your fist or a dagger at my stomach or my throat.I'll break your arm in a split second and use your own weapons against you.

But I don't think that's why you've come all the way from Vienna, I've been through this rough road, and you're definitely not here to joke with me. He chuckled and took a swig of his wine. "And I don't think you're interested in St. Stephen's crown." "

"Of course, I'm here for other things, important things." Frederick stood up and walked back and forth in the room.

"It's getting late," said Charlie Anjou, "and I propose that we talk honestly as two men, as two relatives, so tell me what you want from me."

Frederick Habsburg, who was examining the carvings on the large windows, turned suddenly and looked firmly into the eyes of the King of Hungary.

"Next year I'm going to start a war against my cousin," he says of something he decided weeks ago. "I don't want to play house anymore, I don't want to harass each other back and forth, I'm tired of this, I want to end it. I want war, Charlie!"

"And you think," sighed the king, "that I will help you..."

"It's time to support me in action, we are relatives, you said it yourself just now! It has been more than seven years since I was elected emperor, but I can still only be an anti-emperor. It is time for me to become Holy Roman The only ruler of the empire!"

"What do you want me to give you?" Charlie asked, opening his arms. "Money?"

"I don't want your money!" Frederick waved his hand, "Give me men, soldiers! Thousands of iron troops ready to kill!

I know what a mighty army you have under your hands, people say, since Rozgoni, your army has increased tenfold in size, your number of soldiers has increased every year, and you have fought all the wars... "

"By no means all war." The King of Hungary tried to object, but Frederick continued his speech feverishly and Charles was not heard.

"You have no real enemy now, I know that. Now that you have conquered the Highlands, who will dare to oppose you? I don't need half the army you give me... just give me a quarter!"

"You know very well that my brother-in-law supports Louis the Bavarian."

"Your brother-in-law is now the heir to the Polish throne, not the Czech wild dog!" Frederick put down his empty glass. "And you are not attacking him. If John doesn't want to fight against you, he won't continue to lead his army to support Louis after seeing your flag, but go home obediently..."

Charlie Anjou was silent for a long time, finished drinking the wine in the glass, and waved the empty wine glass with his fingers.Then Frederick changed his strategy of persuasion again.

"Remember, Charlie, you owe me this!"

"What?" asked the king sharply. "What do I owe you? Are you mad?"

"Your people have acted together with the Czechs and have caused considerable damage in my border areas in recent years." Frederick replied excitedly, his snow-white face began to turn red, and his jaw trembled with anger. "I've written to you countless times! Who do your Hungarians think they are? This year, you..."

"During the Northern Expedition this year, I strictly forbid looting." The king interrupted him.

"And after the battle?" asked the Austrian Duke rhetorically. "Have you checked every team that comes home, every army that's outlawed in the impulsive joy of victory?"

The king didn't answer because he knew Frederick was right.He himself revels in victory and tries to please all his followers.

He handed out castles and titles, pardoned old enemies, appointed new men to lead the highlands, bestowed knighthoods on valiant soldiers... He didn't stop how those thirty thousand victorious Hungarians enjoyed it then.

But Frederick interpreted this long silence as a negative, and changed his strategy again.

"Give me eight thousand bloodthirsty cavalry," he begged gently, "and I assure you that Pressburg will once again be part of the Kingdom of Hungary!"

(End of this chapter)