Plantagenet Jerusalem

Chapter XXVI

On January 9, 1333 Pope Nicholas VI dies , bitter about not being able to stop the war in Northern Italy.

On February 1, the conclave that elected Pope Jacques Fournier took the name of Benedict XIII. Fournier and former Cistercian inquisitor , he begins an action for the moralization of the church , beginning with the question of the benefits and ecclesiastical organization of the Curia

Also, threatening excommunication to all contenders can do sit at the negotiation table John and his enemies.

On April 2, the representatives of the factions come together at Tivoli, enjoying the hospitality of Richard II Conti.

On June 7, we reach the following agreements . John of Luxembourg is recognized as king of Longobardia and its domains coincide that the city of Cremona , Pavia , Vercelli , Como , Novara, Parma, Reggio , Modena and Lucca.

Must identify a subject of the Bavaro and pay tribute to the emperor twenty years and promise not to ally with his enemies.

Riccardo Conti II is recognized as vicar in the domains of John of Luxembourg

They confirmed the terms of the peace agreement between John and Ludovico Gonzaga.

Mastino II is recognized master of Brescia. Azzone Visconti keeps Milan, but must yield Monza to Lodrisio Visconti .

Venice gets the confirmation of the exemption of duty on the part of the Scala and the kingdom of Longobardia .

Genoa is confirmed town belonging to the papal rule . The only ones that remain out of the game is the king of France and Robert II of Anjou.

The King of Naples , September 17 , sends an embassy in Jerusalem , asking Thomas alliance against the Aragonese .

Roberto would get to Sicily , while Thomas domains Greeks. The king of Jerusalem, though it has a grudge with the Aragonese , the question of war to Egypt , while confirming its diplomatic support , says he's not interested and have other projects
 
Chapter XXVII

On March 3, 1334 Thomas finally reveals his plans. Send an embassy, led by Argone de Ghizolfi, to Cyprus, pretending from Guy of Lusignan delivery of Leo V of Cilicia.

Guy, stupidly refuses. So on April 9 Thomas starts with the fleet from Acre and invades Cyprus

Invasion prepared for more than a year and funded by the merchants of Acre, eager to put his hands on the riches of the island and to strengthen their position in the Aegean, at the expense of Genoa and Venice.

Unlike in the past, Thomas hasn't warned Abu Said, believing Cyprus outside the purview of the Ilkhanid

On April 20, the army of Jerusalem arrives in Limassol and 1 May defeats the troops of Guido in Lescara.

On May 19, Thomas lay siege to Nicosia, while Guy hides in Farmagosta, where it begins to send embassies to right and left.

The first is sent to Benedict XIII, but the Pope refused to make available the Genoese fleet. In fact, he is more interested in ecclesiastical reform than a power politics

Venice seems available, but imposes humiliating conditions to Lusignan. Guy, desperate, agrees. But on July 4, Francesco Petrarca, son of Ser Petracco, from Jerusalem, to Reggio and meets with Richard II Conti.

On 29 July in Verona. The Doge Francesco Dandolo fears that Thomas wants to agree with John of Luxembourg and with Mastino II, to hit behind the Serenissima, while bringing aid to the Lusignan.

On August 4, Francesco Petrarca is in Venice. Proposes to Venice a
number of commercial advantages in Cyprus, in exchange for neutrality.

When asked about his trip to Verona and Reggio, Francis replied evasively, saying to look for ancient manuscripts for the school Llull.

The Great Council, after lengthy discussions, September 1 decides to accept the proposal of Thomas, rather than becoming embroiled in a war.

Meanwhile, Robert of Naples instead merely highlight the embassy of Lusignan the difficulty of making an expedition so far away from his kingdom, given the possibility that the Aragonese benefit as well.

Thus, between talk and false promises, September 15 surrenders Nicosia. On October 3, Thomas tightens siege Farmagosta.

Then Guy sends an embassy Al-Nasir Muhammad, declaring his vassal.

The Mamluk sultan, however, has no intention to fight again with the Kingdom of Jerusalem. It simply send an embassy to Thomas, declaring himself willing to remain neutral in the war, in exchange for a full subsidy.

Thomas accepts and Argone de Ghizolfi 1 November delivery gold required in Damietta.

Meanwhile, Giovanni di Balduccio moved to Jerusalem, commissioned by Thomas decoration of the new palace
 
Chapter XXVII

On February 6, 1335 Farmagosta surrenders. Thomas, as a tradition, by order of things and meet people and allows Guy to have saved his life and go into exile in Italy.

On March 21, at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, Thomas is also crowned king of Cyprus and instructs Petrarch to write a chronicle in hexameter.

At the same time, extends the laws of the kingdom of Jerusalem to the new conquest, thus acquiring the support of the urban middle class that is in the hands of the administrative power, of the farmers who have reduced taxation and the Orthodox Church and Nestorian whose freedom of worship are respected.

On May 6, however, comes as a bolt from the blue for the news of the death indigestion, after a few days of orgies, of Abu Said.

On May 20, he was appointed successor to his distant cousin, Harp Khan, an entirely different dough than Abu Said.

For one thing, purges the court jesters and maidens, who so loved the predecessor. Then, several hunting vizier corrupt and thieves.

Finally, he decides to regain possession of Anatolia. On July 9, he sends an embassy in Jerusalem.

In practice emphasizes his intention to subdue the turk small states t and recognizing to Thomas the possession of Cilicia and at Halicarnassus, and a free hand in the Aegean, invites him to not expand further in that area which considers the exclusive property Mongolian.

Thomas, who is pleased by the recent success and that neither sees no reason to break with the Mongols, nor to get into that can of worms that is Anatolia, accept, as long as the new achievements are given a number of business benefits to his subjects.

Arpa Khan, after responding to Thomas with some vague promise of duties and warehouses , begins to prepare his campaign in style .

The news, of course, is gradually spreading throughout Anatolia. Orhan on 3 September won Mudanya , isolating the city of Bursa, is very worried.

First, stop the offensive against the Byzantines, then sends an embassy in Uzbek , Khan of the Golden Horde , inviting him to win the Ilkhanid state , as being the descendants of Genghis Khan Khan Harp very vague , not is entitled to govern.

Uzbek accepts is 23 October invades the ilkhanid territory. However, Harp Khan, compared to Abu Said , is a good general and the army mobilized

On November 19 , defeated the troops of the Golden Horde , but a sudden snowfall prevents him to pressure their retreat .

Meanwhile , on December 13 , Azzone and Luchino Visconti escape an assassination attempt . Suspecting that the principals are Lodrisio and Riccardo Conti II , they begin to prepare for a new war
 
Chapter XXVIII

On January 1, 1336 Arpa Khan sends an embassy to the Anatolian small states . Or submit themselves voluntarily or they will suffer the ilkhanid wrath and they will not remain one stone upon another .

Karaman and Eshref immediately accept , Orhan refuses , the other beylikati take time . Arpa Khan on January 28 by the order to mobilize the troops. As soon as the warm weather arrives , will Anatolia on fire .

But Orhan does not remain with our hands . Sent a secret embassy , accompanied by a lot of gold gold which contacts the governor of Baghdad, under investigation by the Mongol Khan for his thievery .

The governor of Baghdad becomes corrupt and organizes a conspiracy. On March 6 , while the troops are gathering to begin the expedition, Arpa Khan falls under the dagger of the conspirators who put on the ilkhanid throne their puppet Musa Khan

But the news is not well received . On March 26, in the domain ilkhanide break out a series of revolts against Musa Khan, instigated by Hasan Burzug .

Musa Khan, considering the bad , take the treasure of the court on May 9, escapes from Uzbek Khan on June 6 kills him treacherously , seizing his goods

Thus, Hasan Burzug places on the ilkhanid throne Muhammad Khan

Meanwhile , Thomas, after returning to Cyprus in March Monophysite communities , driven by persecution of Lusignan, May 4 receives an embassy from Edward III when he asked for support in his claim to the crown of France .

Thomas while assuring and providing diplomatic support to the king of England an economic subsidy , it is called outside of any military intervention , since it is outside of its interests and its logistics capabilities .

According to tradition, June 24 Giotto arrives in Jerusalem at the invitation of Thomas, though there are no documents or works to try it , but only late testimony , according to which the artist would perform in the royal palace two paintings , one depicting the glory. the other generals of antiquity

On September 9 , Azzone nd Lodrisio Visconti declares war on the kingdom of Longobardia .

On 21 October, in Desio Luchino Visconti defeats the Company of St. George . On the 15th November, the Milanese troops began the siege of Monza
 
Chapter XXIX

On January 3, 1337, the troops of Luchino Visconti intercept the Eustachian Conti, sent by his father to the rescue of Lodrisio.

During the battle, Lodrisio order a sortie that took by surprise the besiegers and puts them on course. But both losses incurred by Eustace, and the poor condition of the garrison of Monza, prevent the allies to take full advantage of the victory.

Richard II Conti January 19 sends an embassy to Benedict XIII, to mediate with the Visconti.

In response, Azzone sent an embassy to Ludovico il Bavaro contacting John of Luxembourg.

The King of Bohemia assures the emperor did not want to expand its Italian domains and want to make peace with Milan. Ludovico which is not at all excited about becoming embroiled in the complex game of Italian politics and negotiations for an alliance with Edward III at the expense of France, responds to Azzone February 1, declaring himself neutral in the dispute.

Do the same in mid-February Mastino II and Venice. On March 7, Azzone rejects the papal embassy, declaring its intention to proceed with the war to the bitter end and so taking yet another excommunication of his life, and April 1 Eustachian troops are defeated by Matteo II Visconti in Cesano Maderno .

However, on 23 April the troops of Milan are put to flight by the reconstituted company of San Giorgio in Senago.

In the face of such chaos. May 13 John of Bohemia, came to Italy to find an agreement with the Visconti of Milan, and put an end to a war that seems to be increasingly meaningless.

Meanwhile, Edward III declares war on France, managing to overcome the opposition of parliament to new taxes, thanks to the aid of Acre merchant loan enlists a British contingent of 10,000 men and mercenary Swiss and German.

On June 1, with the army landed in Flanders, mocking the French fleet. He is joined by the troops of the Duke of Brabant, and those of Stephen the Bavaro.

On June 3, they begin to loot the Picardy, September 6 and then lay siege to Cambrai

Taken of Italian affairs, and not wanting to go against Louis of Bavaria, July 10 John of Luxembourg declares its neutrality in the affairs of the French

On August 6, the extent of his troops won the Visconti in Cinisello Balsamo and October 9 begins negotiations with opponents, to achieve a compromise peace.

Meanwhile, while all the Thomas attention is focused on the Iilkhanid events that threaten to fall into chaos across the Middle East, Orhan November 14 conquests Bursa
 
Chapter XXX

On January 9, 1338 Philip VI rejects a mediation proposal by Benedict XIII. The Pope, out of spite, prohibits Genoese crossbowmen to be recruited as mercenaries by the French.

On January 25, an embassy arrived from Scotland. The king Alexander IV refuses to intervene on the side of France, seeing no reason to stop decades of peace with England

On February 1, Cambrai surrenders to Edward III. At the news, Philip VI, he decided to move to Saint-Quentin with 35,000 men, convinced he could easily crush in battle the troops of Edward and his allies.

Meanwhile, on February 9, the British army you add a new imperial contingent, led by the Ludwig the Bavarian

On 18 February , the troops will meet in Tournai. Philip VI after the first clashes , known as the right wing of the line English is disorganized and is yielding under the pressure of his infantry .

Sort therefore the overall charge of the cavalry on that side, despite the wet ground from recent rains may diminuirte effectiveness.

The French knights depart spear . After a hundred yards, submerge them a storm of arrows. Although many bounce off the corrazze make slaughter of horses.

The office turns into a meaningless chaos , which in turn blocks the first charge of the French infantry .

The English left side closes ranks and with the support of mercenaries attacked the French cavalry bogged down with a lot of riders dismounted .

Philip VI to try to put some order in his army , ordering his infantry to retreat to regroup . But this order is poorly starring by infantry and reserves that panicked escape .

But not all is lost for the French. The British seem to have run out of arrows and then you can upload a new final.

But while the French are attacking again, emerge from the forest the troops of Bavaro , taken as a mobile reserve , which roam the French, attacking them on the side and to the side.

It ' a massacre. Philip VI died of a fall from his horse , and his son John fell prisoner. Dies Odo IV of Burgundy

So they start the negotiations leading to the Treaty of London of 20 October, with the mediation of the Pope and of John of Bohemia.

John of France agrees to pay 4 million pounds of silver to the king of England and one of Ludwig the Bavarian. of course, will be held in the Tower of London and therefore will not be crowned until full payment of the agreed amount

Also sells Guyenne and Gascony in all sovereignty as well as Calais, the county of Ponthieu and Guines. Edward III also gets the county of Poitou, Périgord, Limousin, the Angoumois and Saintonge. Finally becomes ruler of all the lands in the county of Armagnac, receiving the Resident of Agen, the Quercy, Rouergue, the county of Bigorre and county Gauré, Normandy and Touraine.

Edward III in exchange for renouncing his claim to the French throne.

Edward the Black Prince was appointed Count of Flanders, as long as they do not ever join with the English crown. There is indeed a clause stating that when Edward became king, the county will go to a member of the cadet Plantagenet dynasty.

John de Montfort, Duke of Brittany is recognized, while the duchy of Burgundy returns under the Empire and became private ownership of Ludwig the Bavarian.

Meanwhile, on May 13 signed a Turin peace between Azzone Visconti and John of Luxembourg

Azzone get a grant from the King of Bohemia and the dismissal of Richard II Conti who returns to his dominions of Lazio, replaced by Charles of Luxembourg.

In return, you agree not opportunare more domains Lodrisio and the kingdom of Longobardia.

Meanwhile, Thomas is increasingly concerned by what is happening at the Mongols. The riots have turned into civil war, with pretenders to the throne sprouting like mushrooms.

Argone de Ghizolfi is on the verge of a nervous breakdown, for his many trips across domains Ilkhanid, trying to mediate a truce and to impose a square with different ambitions.

Orhan took advantage of everything, to strengthen its position in Anatolia, rejecting September 3 a Byzantine attempt to regain Bursa
 
Chapter XXXI

In 1339, the economic effects of the war in France are beginning to be felt.

On January 5, the Parisian court declares the Sienese and Florentine bankers of failing to honor the payment of loans obtained in previous years, having to pay war reparations to Britain and the Empire, thus putting the crisis in the financial fabric of Tuscany, in the Jerusalem things are different.

The merchants of Acre, the biggest funders of the victorious campaign of Edward III are having both a strong injection of liquidity, the English king uses the French silver to pay his debts, and are beginning to make use of the proceeds of the plantations and businesses Cypriots, on the other hand begin to put pressure on Thomas.

The ilkhanid chaos has made it more expensive trade with the East. In Anatolia, the expansionism of Orhan against the Byzantines, March 5 won Nicaea, threatens to undermine the relationship between Halicarnassus and Constantinople.

It's necessary for the Plantagenet king intervenes: the courtiers then, remember how the successes of the English cousin are obscuring his victories.

Thomas, with caution, decides to take action diplomatically. In May, all the comings and goings of Argone de Ghizolfi finally has a positive outcome.

May 19 is taken out, under the supervision of the king of Jerusalem, the covenant of Aleppo. The various suitors stop slaughtered between them and the Ilkhanid domain is divided into four states: Jalayiridi, Chobanidi, Muzaffaridi, Injuidi

On June 23, Petrarch is sent to Constantinople to seek an agreement with Andronicus II. The attempt fails, because Andronicus is suspicious of the intentions of Thomas, for fear of ending up in Cyprus, because Petrarch and spends more time looking for that old code in diplomatic negotiations.

In early September, the North of Italy is plagued by an invasion of locusts. If somehow Charles of Luxembourg, making me loads of wheat from Bohemia and buying of commodities from Venice, is able to limit the damage, famine strikes in the bottom of the territories to La Scala, the territories Visconti.

Both of Verona, both from Milan, many migrants depart in the direction of Jerusalem.
 
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