Spring to Summer 1552:
The Dual Kingdoms: Poland was calm after the execution of the Ultra grandees. Their successors assumed their lands and held them for Miklos with little dissent as yet. Miklos himself remained at Krakow with a strong force ready to fight. While the Ultras were in disarray...
Yes, I was
Yes, I was contrasting the narrower appeal of Vedism with the universalism of Buddhism. Your wider contextualisation of the two interests me though. I used to talk about both and Zoroastrianism somewhat when I taught world history in US colleges.
I think this is quite right. Vedism was elitist, Buddhism was universalist. Zoroastrianism doesn't have the same problem as Vedism. It took time to bring in converts. I don't think anyone has yet mentioned Ashoka several centuries after the Lord Buddha. He was a ruthless conqueror who...
The Baltic: Kristoph V took to wearing the Order of St Paul openly at court. His amour propre increased and several courtiers took to attending Lutheran services in Copenhagen. Before long Kristoph became more openly pious. He simply ignored Catholic unease and behaved with decorous courtesy...
It's reliant thus far on guiding for friends, but I hope to attract a wider customer base in time.
That's good. It was the intent. I also want to underline the darkness of war and strife. Too many people seem to have forgotten about that.
Autumn 1551 to Winter 1552:
The Dual Kingdom: Miklos I arrested ten Catholic Polish and Lithuanian grandees before their conspiracy could strike against him. He struck quickly to garrison their ancestral castles. The trial that followed laid bare plots to break the peace and to assassinate the...
My apologies for the extended silence and hiatus. I've been spending a lot of time trying to grow my historic tours company. One's first months in business are quite challenging. I've written a partial update which I'll post immediately.
I had to lay this aside somewhat over the holidays and completely last week, the latter because of prep for a guiding day on Hadrian's Wall. More soon.
Christmas Day: Clement VII raised the golden chalice and sang the liturgy of the Mass in a pure and devout voice: “Dominus Vobiscum.” The large Roman congregation intoned in response “et cum spiritu tuo.” The wine was consecrated in the dark and Advent passed into joyous Christmastide. All...