Chapter 24: Election to The Purple
March, 1290
Regensburg, the seat of the Imperial Diet. The place where dreams were made and broken. Rudolph could feel the ache in his bones. He knew his time was running out. He had reached an agreement with the Pope he would become Holy Roman Emperor, and he would see his son crowned King of the Romans. And then Henry, Duke of Bavaria had died and his son had come to power. Young Otto decided he did not want to support Rudolph as Emperor, and that he instead wanted to contest the election for Rudolph’s heir himself. And so, here they were. The electors, and the candidates, and the Pope himself. All present to do what needed to be done.
Wenceslaus, King of Bohemia as Arch cupbearer spoke first. “My Most Honourable Princes of the Esteemed Empire, we are gathered here today to choose a new Emperor and choose his successor and to end the decades long chaos that has plagued our realm. As it the Prince Electors it is our duty before God, and His Holiness to carry out our sacred duties. We shall hear from both candidates first, and then voting shall commence.”
As he was King of the Romans, Rudolph went first. “My Most Honourable Princes, Your Holiness, I am a man known to you all, I have served as King of the Romans, or King of Germany for many years now. In that time I have strived to bring peace to our realm. I have ended the banditry and raiding that plagued the realm when I ascended the throne. I have introduced measures which reduced the strain on the nobility and brought about fair trade with France and with the Low Countries. I stand before you, aged and experienced with a guaranteed line of succession before me.” He nodded. “My son, Albert knows just what needs to be done to continue peace and prosperity within the realm.” and sat back down.
Otto, Duke of Bavaria, young and fiery, spoke next. “My Most Honourable Princes, Your Holiness. I am young yes, but at my father’s side, I helped crush the revolts that threatened to disrupt Bavaria, already in the short time I have been Duke, I have brought peace and happiness. I do not look to establish a dynasty on the Imperial Throne, I merely look to do what is best for the Empire. I do not believe that King Rudolph or his son, are the right men for this position. They make promises as easily as if they are giving bread to birds. I stand by my promises. Including one to lead a Holy Crusade against the Mamluk should the chance arise.”
Otto sat down. Wenceslaus stood up again. “We have heard the candidates. Now the time has come for voting, if there is anyone here who has anything to say now, let them speak.”
His Holiness Nicholas IV stood up then and in a shaking voice said. “Choose wisely. We must bring an end to this chaos, for there stands before us a great threat to Christendom, such as has not been faced since the rise of the Muhammadeans.” The Pope sat back down.
Rudolph sat and endured the silence, he saw that the Count Palatine was done first, the man nodded to him. Rudolph knew he had the man’s vote, he might be Otto’s uncle, but he hated the man and was besides married to Rudolph’s own daughter. He kept his face expressionless, knowing that to show emotion would be to end everything he had strived for. Duke Otto on the other hand looked like a cornered animal, his eyes flittered from one place to the next, constantly eyeing up people, he had scowled when his uncle had acknowledged Rudolph but not him.
As the moments passed by Rudolph came to one conclusion, whatever the result was today, Bavaria and Habsburg would never be allies. Not as long as it was Otto and his lot who ruled. Something would need to be done about that. Perhaps Rudolph could convince the Count to invade Bavaria and take the whole thing. The count was an ambitious man, perhaps that would work. It would certainly play to his ego. At his side, his son Albert shifted. Albert was everything a man could want in a son, tall, strong, confident, smart and capable. He had sired countless children already, and had more on the way. Albert was going to be confirmed immediately as King of the Romans should they succeed here, which was something Rudolph most definitely hoped for.
The Duke of Saxony was the next one to stand up and place his paper in the cup that was on the table. The man nodded to Rudolph, he was his son by marriage but the two of them had never quite seen eye to eye. The man had been close to Duke Otto before that man’s ascension to the Dukedom. Who knew how he would vote. As the Margrave of Brandenburg rose and put his paper in the cup, Rudolph tensed. Brandenburg had not looked at him and that could mean only one thing. As the spiritual electors got up and did their business, Rudolph felt his nerves grow. The last man to put his paper in the cup was Wenceslaus.
Finally, it was done, His Holiness stood up and walked to the cup. He pulled the first card out of the cup. “Albert, Duke of Austria.”
Rudolph breathed a sigh of relief.
The Pope pulled another card out. “Otto, Duke of Bavaria.”
Rudolph kept his face expressionless.
Another card. “Albert, Duke of Austria.”
Rudolph looked across the room, Otto looked livid. He would make a poor Emperor.
“Otto, Duke of Bavaria.” Otto’s face changed into one of a half-smile. At his side Rudolph felt Albert inhale.
“Albert, Duke of Austria.” And then exhale.
“Otto, Duke of Bavaria.” Tension rose in Rudolph then, was he truly about to lose to such a stripling?
He did not move as the Pope put his hand into the cup and drew out the final card. He took an age to open it. eventually he did and he read out the name written down. “Albert, Duke of Austria.”
Rudolph finally exhaled as he heard His Holiness say. “We have a new Emperor and a new successor.” The Pope came to him and Rudolph bowed his head as he was blessed. Albert did the same.
“Thank you, Your Holiness.” Rudolph whispered. He had a large debt to repay now.