The Republic Reborn

[LD]

Let me refine what I said above a little bit.

The Papacy was, historically, a poor manager of resources.  The Papal States were rarely under any sort of effective control, and wealth was either squandered on constant struggle between various communes and local nobles or frittered away on luxuries for the Pope and his Curia.  Southern Italy benefited from Greek and Arabic influence in agriculture and administration, Northern Italy prospered because of maritime power and the wealth it brought to independent and forward-thinking communes, but central Italy was left a backwater under a stagnant ecclesiastical administration, its poverty made all the more glaring by the contrast to what it had once been.

It is true that Rome in 1152 is not the most "optimal" starting location, were you to pick anywhere in Europe to try and raise a city to prominence.  It does not have silver mines or a textile industry or a perfect harbor like the Venetian lagoon.  It is weak, yet coveted - the Pope and Emperor both want it for one reason or another.  Rome does, however, have resources and strengths of its own.  It has the prestige of the Imperial City; it has churches and relics people from all over Christendom will come to see; it has grand architecture and a massive amount of marble; it even has a uniquely angry populous.  It may have other things that you have yet to discover or things you already know about but have not yet begun to utilize.  The challenge of this game is, essentially, to find, control, and utilize these resources, whether they be mercantile, religious, social, or whatever, in an attempt to do better than your historical counterparts.  The historical rulers of Rome did this poorly; your challenge is to do it well.  If I handed all these things to you on a silver platter and made you as rich as Venice, it would not be the kind of game I would like to run and I suspect it would not be as interesting to you.

To sum it up, the pessimistic statement I made in the last post is reflective of the situation as it exists in the Autumn of 1152.  I am not saying that situation cannot change, nor that you lack the power to change it.  Indeed, you must change the situation if you hope to survive.  You must pursue these things, however; they will not be handed to you.

Ok. My comments were informed by this concern: I did not want to go off and do something terribly self-defeating. I enjoy the challenge and the depth that the game is set up to give. My confusion was in the initial description of the game as a "do what you want" game juxtaposed with several reinforcements that trade was "extremely excessively difficult" and that Polycarp had not been prepared for us to be discussing trade; which made me wonder if the goal of the game was either (a. maximize my stats and power) or (b. confront whatever challenges are thrown at Rome--a responsive game). And I also wondered how close we were adhering to history for the very reasons that you brought up above. Adhering close to history would make an Arnoldist reformation impossible, and from what you describe, Rome as a trade port impossible-there is just too much arrayed against those possibilities. Thank you for the clarification.

[Llum]

[ic=Letter to Senator Manzinni]
Thank you for supporting my bid for Consul, and for making me aware of this offer from Roger of Sicily. I will be sure to open diplomatic talks as Consul of the Exterior. Next there is the matter of securing safe port for Roman ships, you had made the suggestion of Portus or Gregoriopolis I believe. Enquiries will be made in regards to this.
[/ic]

[ic=Letter to Senator de Vinti]
At your request my diplomatic powers will be exercised along with my military ones. However first and foremost the Papal Alliance must be undermined. Autumn is not the season to be on campaign anyway.
[/ic]

[ic=Letter to Consul Basile]
During the Summer months Oddone Fragipani made it known discretely to the Consuls that he will remain neutral in the coming conflict between us and the Papacy in exchange for Pierlioni. I have made some attempts to do so but perhaps with your influence as Consul of the Interior you may have more success. This is why during the Summer I claimed Pierlioni as a son of Rome, to put him at ease.

Now as matters for the Consul of the Interior, I believe that the aquaducts should be repaired. Should Rome come under siege in the future they will prove quite valuable. Next I think the Roman militia needs more training, perhaps made a permanent force similar to the Legions of old? The veterans of Tivoli make an excellent starting point for this. As Consul of the Interior the Colonna affair is yours to be delt with as you wish.
[/ic]

[TheMeanestGuest]

[ic=Letter to Senator de Vinti]
Your congratulations are most welcome, Senator. It is good to know that you are a man of substance, and I appreciate your support for my initiatives. Your donation to the coffers of Rome will not be forgotten. I will of course do my utmost to ensure our militia stays home for the remainder of the year, it would be unwise to initiate another campaign so soon, as I am sure Consul Calafatus is aware. You are right, we do have enemies within the walls of the Eternal City, and I intend to deal with them. As you no doubt know, I have organized days of drill for our militia, which should go some way to increasing their staying power on the field. I trust in future you are a man I will be able to rely on, Hugo.

Consul Roberto Basile
[/ic]

[ic=Letter to Senator Manzinni]

Senator Manzinni, I could not have done it without your help. I am most humbled by your show of support. Our discussions have given me much to think on, and I will see to it that all our talk was not for naught. All the waters of the world should lead ships to our glorious city, but, alas, they do not. We have no port, and few vessels. I would very much like to see your vision become reality, but I fear it is some years off.

Your Friend,

Consul Roberto Basile
[/ic]


[ic=Letter to Consul Calafatus]
Consul Calafatus, I do not think I have congratulated you yet on your victory, so, congratulations. And most intriguing. This does explain your unusual degree of support for our former Patrician. As you have initiated this arrangement, I will leave it to you for now. However, if significant violence is to occur on the streets of Rome as a result of your handling of this situation, I will be taking matters into my own hands.

As to the Aqua Virgo, we are in concurrence. I expect to secure the services of an engineer to evaluate what must be done in this regard quite soon. As you of course know, I have instituted mandatory days of training twice a year for the militia, which should to some degree aid the capability of our force. And a permanent, professional military? That would be quite something, I will say. But as of yet I do not believe we have the wealth, or the support necessary to create such an entity. It is something to be kept in mind for the years ahead.

Consul Roberto Basile

[/ic]

------------

[ic=A Speech to the Mob]People of Rome! For too long have we tolerated the greedy grasping hands of the sinners who mock their sacred duty as Vicars of Christ. Their spirits are weak, having fallen to cares only of worldly pleasures and possessions! As the wise Friar Arnold would say, they are no true priests, and have forgotten their duty to God! We are left with no choice! We must chastise these false men of God, before the fever that has seized them destroys us all!

Eugene has called foreign mercenaries to walk the streets of Rome in his stead, to enforce his will on your friends and neighbours! This I cannot abide. Let us emulate the bold example of Consul Calafatus, and bring ruin to our enemies! We shall root out these traitors, and drag them from their dens of vice to visit justice upon them! Onwards then, brave Romans! Free your city from tyranny! To the Lateran![/ic]

[ooc=Attack on the Lateran and Southeastern Rome]

When: To take place on the third day of militia training.

- Make a speech near the Colosseum to the mob of Rome, attempting to incite them to violence against the papists and mercenaries in Southeastern Rome. Disperse my own trusted men among the crowd to attempt to maintain some sense of direction and purpose, have the mob head along the road from the Colosseum to the Lateran. Spend no more than 1 wealth on this.

- Gather my own private militia on the Esquiline Hill simultaneously to that of the mob at the Colosseum, and have them march to the Lateran via the main nearby route, attempting to catch the palace defenders in a pincer movement. Co-ordinate departure with a smoke signal to be started as the mob begins to move, additionally send a swift rider, in case the signal should be unobservable.

- Call in the quarter of the Urban Militia that is training on the day of the attack to pacify the eastern part of Papist territory near the Basilica Heleniana, reinforcing my private militia near the Lateran if necessary.

Notes: Pacification of non-belligerent Roman citizens is to be kept to a minimum. No holy relics are to be taken from any churches, and any found in the Lateran Palace are to be delivered to my estate, later to be distributed to other churches. Roberto will receive the majority of wealth recovered to a level of 65% of total wealth or 3 Wealth, whichever is greater (assuming there is that much). Any remaining wealth is to be deposited into the treasury of Rome.

[/ooc]

[Polycarp]

My confusion was in the initial description of the game as a "do what you want" game juxtaposed with several reinforcements that trade was "extremely excessively difficult"

I understand your confusion.  The thing is, "do what you want" does not necessarily mean that whatever you want can actually be accomplished.   I make an effort to accommodate the interests of every character, and I absolutely do not think that trade is not a worthwhile pursuit, but there are limits, and you will find them when you push up against these limits.

Just because the game has limits, however, doesn't mean you shouldn't approach them.  A historical character does not know he is in a game.  The Albigensians and the Hussites did not know that there was a "no reformations" rule in play.  The bottom line is, if your character wants trade, pursue it; if your character wants to reform Christianity, pursue it.  If it turns out to be impossible, then think about what your character would do and try something else.  Things like reforming the Church in the 12th century and challenging Pisa at the height of its power are going to be very difficult, that's true, but there may be other ways to get what you want - and if your character's goals absolutely, positively require him to fight the Papacy to the death, so be it.  You might meet a tragic end, but hopefully you will enjoy the game in pursuit of that tragic end, as will the rest of us.

[Llum]

[ic= Letter to Roger of Sicily]
Greetings Your Majesty

I have been informed by your cousin-in-law, Senator Manzinni, that you are willing to open talks with our fair city of Rome. He proposed a trade for protection at sea for Roman vessels, is salt a resource you would accept in trade? If not, are there any other negotiations you would be willing to enter with?
[/ic]

[ic= Letter to Margrave of Verona]
Greetings Margrave,

As you say, my personal opinions aside Arnold of Brescia has the support of the Roman poor. The man is extremely popular, and as such I must give him my support for now. But know that I will try to resolve the situation before Frederick arrives in our Roman city. We are as ever loyal members of the Empire.

Fortis Calafatus
[/ic]

[ic= Letter to Tolomeo(Ptomely II)]
Greetings, Tolomeo Prince of Latium.

This new season sees you in dire financial trouble, as Consul of the Exterior of Rome and a fellow noble I am distressed. If there is anything you wish, do not hesitate to ask.
[/ic]

[ic= Message nailed to the gates of Tre Fontane]
Hear me monks of Tre Fontane, you have refused the protection offered by House Calafatus. The sentiment against the wealthy clergy is increasingly negative and aggressive, I offered protection out of good faith and was summarily rejected. As such, Tre Fontane will suffer what God wills and there will be no protection from Rome so long as I am Consul of the Exterior and there is no redress.
[/ic]

[ic= Letter to Consuls of  Perugia]
Thank you for your Support, a suitable residence will be arranged for you come this Spring.

Fortis Calafatus, Consul of the Exterior.
[/ic]

[ic= Letter to Duke Welf]
Greetings Duke Welf IV

As Consul of the Exterior I would like to open negotiations between yourself and our fair city of Rome. Is there anything you would have from our fair city?
[/ic]

[ic= Letter to Patrician Pierlioni]
Greetings Patrician,

You still refuse to to meet with me. I have publicly proclaimed you a Son of Rome to be trusted and you doubt me. Now then how about we meet at the border of your domains and I publicly escort you back to my home for a supper to discuss the future of Rome and your involvement in it. Tivoli joined to papal alliance and payed for it dearly, with a Roman army raising their city to the ground and destroying their fields, led by none other than myself. Rome does not stand on such a terrible precipice and you envision. So, meet with me and we can further resolve this situation. Feel free to bring a small escort if you do not feel safe alone.

Fortis Calafatus, your friend and Consul of the Exterior.
[/ic]

[ic= Letter to City of Ardea]
Leaders of Ardea, the Roman star waxes high and we wish to extend the hand of friendship. Feel free to send an a delegation in the coming Winter or Spring to begin negotiations with our fair city.

Fortis Calafatus, Consul of the Exterior
[/ic]

[ooc=Orders Autumn of 1152]
-Assemble house guard favoring the recruitment of veterans from Tivoli from the  popolo minuto. Arm them very well and implement a daily training regimen, spending no more than 2 Wealth
-Create a barracks capable of housing my entire house guard with their families, and permanently hire all of the recruited  popolo minuto. If done increase training to twice weekly.
-Send team to Greece to gain knowledge for improved Siege equipment, to return with books/tomes and actual engineers if possible. Offer compensation to any Greeks to are willing to come to Rome. Spend no more than 1 Wealth
-Search Rome for any tomes, scrolls or knowledge relating to the logistics, armament, siege equipment and other related misc info about the Roman Legions.
-Send a surveyor to assess the coast west of Ardea and east of Portus for a suitable place for a coastal port. Key points are deep harbor, defensible position, dry land (non-marshy). To make sure this is finished spend no more than 1 Wealth.
-Send letters to rulers of Ardea, Roger of Sicily, Tolomeo, Margrave of Verona, Pierlioni, the Ten Consuls of Perugia and Duke Welf.
-Have my nephew Ricardo nail the message to the gates of Tre Fontane.
-Use my entire House Militia to escort Pierlioni to my estate if he accepts.
-Secretly tell Oddone Frangipani when the meeting will be and arrange a body double of Pierlioni. Turn Pierlioni over to Oddone and send his body double back to his quarters. If this does not work, kill his escort and hand him over to Oddone regardless, proclaim an attempted assassination on myself by Pierlioni to the mob and that he died in the attempt.
[/ooc]

[LD]

I was waiting for stargate to reply to me, but seeing as how Llum has a placeholder for Tre Fontaine above:

[ic=Discussion with Fortis]
Regarding Tre Fontaine, I have spoken with Arnold and he does not counsel putting the Monks to the sword--he does not enjoy their great wealth, but if their wealth can be used to help the people, it seems he will likewise tone his rhetoric towards the Holy Monks--they can have wealth to manage their lands, but ostentation can be denied.

I believe we can negotiate an agreement where they donate some of their wealth to the people of Rome, for construction of an Aqueduct- the one that is planned for the city--and that Aqueduct can serve both the Lateran City and the People's City. The gift should endear them to the people and in turn we will leave them in peace and be allowed to travel to and from their alley as they wont- as they are allowed to keep some of their wealth and to be left unmolested by Arnold.
[/ic]

[ic=Discussion with EE's Character]
I have heard that your family came from Spain originally; was it from the region of Barcelona? If so, do you still have contacts in that area? I have heard much of Barcelonian Iron. Is it truly as valued in wrought chainmail armor? And what might those in Barcelona desire in return for purchases of the mail? I would like to pursue better arming our Roman citizens in defense when our enemies again assault the walls.
[/ic]

Updated OOC orders 2 pages back.

Polycarp: "A historical character does not know he is in a game."

Yes, but a historical character is also unlikely to do something cravenly stupid. I would like to avoid planning and then doing something that is extremely foolish due to lack of knowledge about this historical period in Italy. I did find your "no reformations rule" comment amusing. :)

Maybe the trade map you designed could be added to the 1st page with the maps? Thanks!

[Llum]

[ic=Discussion with Senator Manzinni]
I agree with the counsel of yourself and Arnold of brescia. I would never put the monks to the sword, however they rejected my honest offer for protection. There is a large sentiment of anger directed at the wealthy clergy, mainly because of our friend Arnold, and Tre Fontane is the nearest display of that lavish excess so I feared for their safety. They have rejected it out of hand so now I will simply state that they will be left to suffer what God wills unless they come back and ask humbly of House Calafatus.

Also, I have begun negotiations with your cousin-in-law, Roger of Sicily. I cannot say what will come of it, but Rome should have a safe sea-faring future. Secondly I have begun the survey of land to find an ideal location for a new defensible port town of our own.
[/ic]

[Stargate525]

I was waiting for stargate to reply to me, but seeing as how Llum has a placeholder for Tre Fontaine above:

>.<

I completely missed it!


[ic=Reply to Manzinni]
Tre Fontane is more than a monastery, it is my home. That they throw in with the pope is an annoyance, and an insult. If we can negotiate further a declaration from them supporting us, or a condemnation of the pope's misdeeds and failings, then we might be on to something. I have a vested interest in their protection, as they are the centerpiece of my hometown. They need not fear their cardinal as long as I am alive, at least... Militarily.

If we can squeeze that from them as well, the better. However, I do like the proposal. As I am the one proposing the notion, I would like to accompany Fortis into the negotiation chamber.
[/ic]

[LD]

Thanks.

Llum- add to my previous mention to you that "Di Fontane also expresses a wish to accompany you into the negotiation chamber."

(Feel free to read his whole reply to Manzinni above, because I would have communicated it to you in essence.)

[Polycarp]

Now that all orders are in, this turn is closed.  You may not edit or add any orders unless you clear it with me first in chat or PM.

The update may or may not come tonight.  It's sort of a big one, so please be patient.

[LD]

[ic=To Calafactus]
Re: "Thank you for supporting my bid for Consul, and for making me aware of this offer from Roger of Sicily. I will be sure to open diplomatic talks as Consul of the Exterior. Next there is the matter of securing safe port for Roman ships, you had made the suggestion of Portus or Gregoriopolis I believe. Enquiries will be made in regards to this."

Your actions are most appreciated, honored Consul. The easier it is for pilgrims to come to Rome, the less we need to tax our citizens; and the easier it is for ships to travel to Rome, the more safe the city is should its enemies surround it.
[/ic]

[Polycarp]

Anno Domini MCLII
Autumn has passed into Winter...
Winter seldom brings snow to Rome, but the cold winter winds are accompanied by sudden storms.  Floods are still a danger, and only the most reckless mariners try their luck at sea this time of year.  In the countryside, vines are pruned and firewood is gathered, while craftsmen huddle indoors making and maintaining tools and equipment for the coming year.  The people fast through Advent before feasting at Christmas, upon a pig slaughtered in late autumn if they can afford it, and on wild game if not.  Epiphany is celebrated in January, and the date of Easter is announced to the people.

Our Consuls: Fortis Calafatus and Roberto Basile
Our Pope: Eugene III
Our Rage: Fuming!
News from Abroad

Word has reached Italy of the Imperial Diet of Würzburg, a general assembly of the Princes, Ecclesiastics, and Free Cities of the Holy Roman Empire.  Here on October 13th, Frederick Hohenstaufen, King of the Romans and King of Germany, swore to complete the plans of his predecessor Conrad III – to march upon Rome and restore his Imperial rights in Italy.  He has sent word to his German vassals to prepare their forces and finances and make ready to depart in no more than two years.

News of Latium

The free communes of Nepi, Civita Castellana, and Viterbo, along with the Bishopric of Sutri, have sworn to a pact of mutual defense and assistance.  Though the aims of the so-called Faliscan League have not been explicitly stated, most assume it is a reaction to recent Roman aggression against Tivoli.  Viterbo and Sutri in particular have feuded with Rome for years.

Rumor has it that bands of Sabine marauders from Rieti have crossed the ill-defined border of the Papal States and raided lands held by the Abbey of Farfa.  Whether this is the result of some local squabble or a deliberate policy of aggression by the Commune of Rieti is unclear.

News of Rome

The people of Rome talk of little else but Ottobre di Sangue, "Bloody October," which was the month of a costly battle for the Lateran and three days of rioting and street fighting following the St. Ignatius' Day Massacre at the estate of Consul Calafatus.  It is estimated that a thousand Romans have died in the space of twelve days.  Though Papal forces are no longer in the city, the disorder is greater than ever, with the Senate house itself burned to the ground in the chaos.  While the bloodshed has polarized various factions even further – the Arnoldists vs. the Papists, the Consoli vs. the Patrizi – there is an increasing number of Romans, particularly among the popolo grasso, who urge the Senate to back down from the brink of anarchy and find a negotiated solution to the turmoil.

Pietro Colonna has come to an agreement with the Commune and has departed the city, though his palazzo remains under his ownership and guarded by his armsmen.  Rumor has it that he has left for his estates in the Alban Hills, and taken his most valuable possessions with him.

It rained quite heavily in November, and minor flooding forced some families living near the Tiber to abandon their homes.  Hopefully the worst of it is over.

The Gates of Janus Open!

Rome was at war this season past, and herein are detailed the accomplishments of Roman arms.

[spoiler=Battle of the Lateran]The Battle of the Lateran
October 8th

Commune of Rome
Consul Roberto Basile
565 Urban Militia
225 Masnada
800 Roman Mob

Papal States (enemy)
Cardinal-Vicar Gregorio della Suburra
30 Papal Knights
250 Papal Mercenaries
400 Roman Mob

Early October saw the bloodiest battle within the walls that the city has seen for some time.  What seemed at first to be routine grandstanding by a Roman Consul against the Papal forces occupying Rome turned into a full pitched battle when that Consul, Roberto Basile, dispensed silver deniers to the crowd and urged them to attack the Lateran in force.  Though the Romans had skirmished with the defenders of the Lateran that summer, this was the beginning of a serious attempt to wrest the Papal palace from the forces that had held it since spring.

Those forces were led by Cardinal-Vicar Gregorio della Suburra, the Pope's "governor" in Rome.  Though he actually governed very little of the city and commanded fewer than three hundred regulars, his defensive position was not without merit.  His army, largely mercenary footmen and a handful of vassal knights, held the high ground of the Caelian hill and were not caught off-guard by the approach of nearly a thousand angry Romans urged on by Consular outrage and silver.  Della Suburra had already been informed, probably by sympathetic Romans at the Consul's speech, and was in the process of gathering pro-Papal Roman auxiliaries wherever they could be found.

The Roman mob advancing towards the Lateran, however, was not alone.  They were joined by men raised and armed by Consul Basile marching on a second road towards the Lateran.  Having observed this, della Suburra pulled his forces back behind the crest of the hill and awaited the approach of the enemy.

Della Suburra split his force in two.  On the left, to confront the mob, he placed his irregulars and his knights; on the right, the majority of the mercenary footmen.  The pro-Papal mob clashed briefly with the Roman mob at the crest of the hill, but was quickly dispirited and pushed back by the sheer number of the enemy.  When this attack failed, della Suburra's knights attacked the mob.  Their advance was impeded by their own retreating irregulars, but the knights managed to regroup and charge the Romans.  The sight of mounted and mailed knights riding at them over the hill crest, knee to knee, lances down, gripped the mob with a sudden terror.  They were disorganized already, more so by the brief skirmish before, and winded from charging up the hill.  When the thirty knights hit them, they scattered.

While the mob routed, the Consul's armsmen clashed with the mercenaries on della Suburra's right flank.  The fighting was fierce, but without irregular support the Consular masnada was outnumbered and began to get the worse of the situation.  Against all expectations, the Papal knights then held back on their gleeful slaughter of Roman peasants, rallied, and attacked Basile's armsmen from the flank.  Though the Roman mob had themselves begun rallying in knots upon the hill, they themselves retreated when Basile's armsmen broke and fled.

It was just at this point that the Consul himself arrived on the scene with more than five hundred Roman militia.  His plan had originally called for the militia to attack to the east and take the Basilica Heleniana, but della Suburra had pulled all his forces to the Lateran and the Consul found no resistance there.  A rider informed him of the crisis at the Lateran, and the Consul marched his militia as fast as possible over the half-mile between the Basilica and the Palace.

The Consul could now survey the disaster.  On his right were hundreds of fleeing Romans being cut down by marauding knights.  In front of him was the unbroken wall of della Suburra's mercenary infantry, with the Papal battle flag waving above them – crimson, with two white keys.  Basile was confronted with a choice – pull back and cut his losses, or assault the enemy.

He chose the latter.

Though the militia was no longer fresh after hurrying to the Lateran and somewhat unnerved by the sight of their fleeing allies, they held steady as the Consul ordered the attack.  The two formations of spearmen smashed into each other practically in the shade of the Lateran Palace.  Both sides pressed close, the front line wavering back and forth as the Consul called encouragement.

Della Suburra was now struck with his first misfortune of the battle.  His knights, having routed every enemy in sight, were busily riding down hapless Romans and completely oblivious to the newly arrived militia.  Some of his irregulars dispersed in the opening stages of the battle had rallied and joined the fight, but they only just evened the odds.  What followed was not elegant, inspired, or clever – it was a half-hour grind between two packs of infantry.

Della Suburra realized that for all the valor of his men, he could not persevere.  His knights had cut down and trampled hundreds of Romans and were finally heading back to the Lateran, but they were exhausted and their horses were blown.  The news of the battle had reached the city, and had been reported by the survivors as a catastrophic defeat; hearing this, several Roman Equites and nobles quickly gathered their guards and went to size up the situation.  With his mercenaries slowly falling back on the one hand, and apparent Roman reinforcements arriving on the other, della Suburra decided discretion was the better part of valor.  The mercenaries at least had bought him time to gather as many treasures of the Lateran as he could carry.  As his mercenaries were overrun, the Vicar, his servants, and his knights slipped out the nearby city gate.

The Consul had won, but it took days for the alternating rumors of victory and defeat to sort themselves out; Consul Calafatus had been informed by one "witness" that Basile had actually been killed.  The families of the many men whose bodies were strewn between the Lateran and the Colosseum certainly did not see it as a victory, though the local beggars and gleaners made a small windfall by picking Basile's silver from the pockets of the dead.  It was a costly day for Rome, brightened only by the fact that the destruction of Basile's irregular forces meant that the Lateran suffered very little damage apart from having everything of any value stripped from the walls by the militia.  The Communal government assumed control of the former Papal quarter with very little subsequent fuss or disorder.

Your expedition has been victorious!  All Papal-held territories in Rome are under Communal control and no known Papal forces remain in the city.

The costs of this campaign were 2 Wealth, paid for by Consul Roberto Basile.  The spoils of this campaign (aside from what was taken by Roman soldiers) amount to 3 Wealth, which goes to Consul Basile.  Consul Basile has a net gain of 1 Wealth.

The Commune of Rome has suffered around 600 casualties, including 80 Militiamen.

The Papal States suffered around 200 casualties, and about 100 mercenaries have surrendered and been taken prisoner.  They are not nobles and we will probably not receive ransom offers for them.  Their ultimate fate is in the hands of the Senate.

The following units have been encountered for the first time and will be added to the Unit Library: Masnada, Papal Knights, Papal Mercenaries.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=St. Ignatius' Day Massacre]St. Ignatius' Day Massacre
October 17th

Consoli
100 Masnada (Consular Guard)
Around 200 Masnada (various Senatorial guards and armsmen)
An unknown number of Roman Mob

Patrizi
Around 400 Masnada (Pierleonist armsmen)
An unknown number of Roman Mob

On October 17th, the feast day of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, the city of Rome was shaken by turmoil.  The details of the massacre and the ensuing street battles are still unclear, and rumors are still flying months later as to what really happened, but the most credible story is as follows.

For some time, Consul Fortis Calafatus had been attempting to arrange a meeting with Patrician Giordano Pierleone to resolve matters between the two of them.  On the 15th, only a week after the fall of the Lateran, the Patrician agreed.  Pierleone, together with thirty of his house guards, proceeded to the Consul's estate around noon.  What exactly touched off the events that followed is unclear, but only an hour after his arrival, a fight broke out at the estate.  In just a few minutes, the Consul's newly-formed militia massacred the Patrician's guards, though a few managed to escape.

It appears that the Patrician, having been captured by the Consul's soldiers, was in the process of being taken elsewhere when they were ambushed.  The Patrician's guards that escaped the estate had summoned help, and hundreds of enraged Romans and Pierleonist armsmen had streamed into central Rome from the Leonine City and Trastavere.  It seemed clear in the aftermath that these men must have been organized in advance.  A desperate fight broke out a few blocks from the Consul's estate.  Though fairly well-equipped, the Consul's newly-formed militia were overwhelmed and fled in a shambles, with some being lynched in the street by the Pierleonists.  The Patrician was reportedly wounded, but is believed to have been rescued.  The Consul escaped as well; one rumor has it that he personally fought his way out of the crowd, while another maintains that he only escaped death by hiding in an empty wine barrel by the side of the street.

The day then turned to complete chaos.  Skirmishes between "Patrizi" and "Consoli" bands erupted around the Capitoline hill and the Vatican bridge.  The mob that had freed the Patrician then turned back on the Consul's estate, where the Consul and his remaining guards locked themselves inside for safety; unable to break in, the mob then proceeded to the old palazzo currently being used as the Senate house, abducted two of the Senators who were there at the time, and set the building on fire.

By this time the Communal leadership had recovered from the initial shock and began gathering the militia, the equites, and any other man – armed or unarmed – that could be roped into a defense of the city.  The various skirmishing bands and militias coalesced on the Capitoline Hill, and the old Forum was filled with Romans killing each other like the civil wars of old.  The fighting continued into the night, with the Communal forces only being able to re-establish control over the Capitoline on the 19th.  Senate loyalists launched a counterattack on the Theater of Marcellus, but were quickly driven back.

Rumors fly about the causes of this violence.  The Pierleonists, particularly Patrician Giordano's brother Ruggero, accused the Consul of betraying the Patrician and murdering his men; the Consul's supporters claimed that the Patrician's men had tried to assassinate the Consul.  Some believe the Patrician is dead, others swear they have seen him alive; some believe the Consul is a hero who fought bravely for his life, and some a coward who tried to murder the Patrician and fled as soon as things went wrong.  All that is certain is that the Senate house has been burned to the ground and hundreds of Romans are dead.

Two senators are believed to be captives, but their locations are unknown.  The events have provoked a crisis of confidence in Consul Calafatus's leadership, and he has lost 1 Influence.[/spoiler]

Senatorial Inquests

Senators that requested information or launched endeavors have the results of their efforts listed here.  This information is private, but you may certainly choose to share it with the Senate.

[spoiler=Hugo de Vinti]Naples
Your agent reports that the great wealth of Naples is in linen cloth.  Unlike the maritime republics, however, there are no real "companies" of merchants that operate out of Naples that would be receptive to outside investment.  Most traders here are Genoese and Pisan, and one would have to go to Genoa or Pisa to invest in their trading concerns.  The fields of flax that supply the Neapolitan linen industry are owned by Lombard and Norman barons to whom the concept of "investment" is largely foreign – peasants work the land and bring the linen to market in Naples, and their lords take a cut of it.

Unfortunately, your agent returned from Naples with little to show for it, but the idea of flax cultivation may be of some value.  The plant, in fact, is native to Latium, particularly to the northwest and around Corneto, but the only cultivation is on cottage farms for local use.  It is uncertain whether flax could be grown on a more extensive basis in the Roman Campagna or not, but perhaps Neapolitan methods of farming and production might be useful.

Gregoriopolis
Your delegation proceeded down the Via Ostiensis to Gregoriopolis, a small town enclosed in a simple but sturdy-looking stone wall just next to the ruins of ancient Ostia.  The town and its wall were built by Pope Gregory IV in the 9th century to protect coastal residents from Saracen attacks, a purpose which the wall has successfully accomplished since then – when the Saracens attacked Rome and sacked the Vatican a few years later, they passed right by Gregoriopolis without incident.  Despite the fortifications, however, the people were not hostile, and your delegation was allowed in by the townsfolk.

The town is mostly empty.  Most of the houses are abandoned; the current residents are nearly all salt-workers (who harvest salt from the salt marshes near the river) and mortar-makers (who grind up and kiln-roast blocks of ancient marble from the nearby ruins to make mortar) as well as their families.  The state of the town is due to the scourge of malaria, which the locals blame on foul air from the same local marshes they harvest salt from.  The population seems to presently be about a hundred, though it apparently varies with the season.

The villagers were overjoyed to receive the gifts, for none of them seemed to be very wealthy.  They were especially pleased to receive wine and cloth, as the salt and mud quickly ruin their clothes and they believe the wine fortifies them against fever.  They are common laborers with no interest in politics, and expressed no opinions about the Romans or the Commune one way or the other.  They informed the delegation that their town was a Papal fief, but church officials only come to collect the "tithe" in late autumn and stay well away from the town the rest of the year.  Gregoriopolis is administered by an elected sindaco (mayor) along with a half dozen priests of the Basilica Santa Aurea, who perform mass, care for the sick, and preserve the relics of several local saints and martyrs.  The duties of the sindaco, also the village carpenter, seem to be restricted to maintaining the watch and mediating disputes.

The Basilica is technically the seat of the Bishop of Ostia, Cardinal Hugo of Beauvais.  Hugo is a Frenchman who is the chief scribe of the Pope; "Bishop of Ostia" is merely a titular office, and nobody has ever seen any Cardinal actually set foot in the little town of Gregoriopolis.

Though the villagers are armed in case of Saracen attack, the extent of their "militia" is a group of workers who take turns watching out for trouble from the church bell tower.  Your delegation thought it very unlikely that they would resist a Roman takeover with force.

You spent 2 Wealth this season, one of which has gone to the Consular fund for defense.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Bernardo DiFontane]Land
You have paid "Il Signore" 2 Wealth and have moved to assume control over the lands indicated to you.  The floods this season have not done any substantial damage to them, which is rather fortunate.  You will not be able to profit from your investment until the harvest in late summer.  Your attempts to find other absentee landowners have been less fortunate.

Household Guard
You have raised a coterie of guards and armsmen for use in the city; with two wealth, you have raised around two hundred men, a not-insubstantial force.  They have been drawn largely from the popolo minuto.  If you intend to retain them as semi-professionals, however, this is a cost you must pay annually.  These men will be treated as masnada unless you have more specific or alternative plans in mind for them.  Training is ongoing, but it may take some time before they are a real effective fighting force.

Relics
Unfortunately, very few of the religious sites – if any – of Rome are abandoned.  Chapels forgotten by most Romans still have a few priests or monks tending to them, even with the turmoil in the city; many of the minor clergy are in fact sympathetic to Arnold of Brescia and have gotten along quite well with the new order.  The Church keeps very good track of important relics and their preservation, and if you are interested in acquiring them you may have to take them from the churches and monasteries of your enemies.

You spent 4 Wealth this season.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Dominico deRosa]Formello
Formello is a fortified town about 15 miles from Rome, overlooking the ancient Via Cassia, a Roman road leading northward from the Eternal City.  In Latium, this road also coincides with the route of the Via Francigena, the primary path for pilgrims from France, England, and much of the Empire traveling to Rome and beyond.  In the past, Formello was a larger city that hosted a major Papal palace, but it was destroyed by the Saracens in the 10th century and rebuilt nearby as a walled settlement.  The town and its castle are held by Signore Martino de Corso, the son of a previous Papal Prefect of Rome.  His allegiances are unknown, but his father was a close ally of the Pierleoni family.

The town lies on a low hill, but the heights are not commanding.  It is not the most strategic installation, but an enterprising lord could use it to effectively close off the pilgrimage route if he saw fit.  Your spy found no obvious vulnerabilities in the structure; having been fortified fairly recently, the walls and citadel of Formello are in no obvious need of repair.  Its fortifications are less robust than those of Tivoli, but it is also near a major road by which the Faliscan cities of the north could intervene if Formello was subjected to a lengthy siege.  Though your spy reported that the walls were manned, the force guarding Formello is not great and the population not large or rich enough to support a strong communal militia.  If taken by surprise, the town would probably muster no more than a few hundred men, though these men could take a long time to dislodge if they withdrew from the wall and competently defended the citadel.

Chapel
The work on your chapel continues according to schedule.

You spent 1 Wealth this season.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Roberto Basile]While the victory at the Lateran was costly and somewhat embarrassing, it was at least a victory.  You were also fortunate in that the later events of the St. Ignatius' Day riots overshadowed any inquiries as to your military competence.  Had it not been for that distraction, you might be the one facing a leadership crisis in the Senate instead of Consul Calafatus.  Still, you are the Consul for the interior, and it will inevitably be you who gets the blame if the present anarchy and continuing violence cannot be quashed.  Decisive action may be needed to retain the confidence of the Senate in your leadership.

Voyage
Captain Bedello has received your investment and your proffered crewmen and set out on his voyage.  It is likely that you will not receive word from Pisa regarding the success of the venture until later in winter or early spring.

Defense Fund
The Defense Fund has been established.  You have given 1 wealth to this fund, as has Senator Hugo de Vinti.  As long as you continue to be Consul of the interior, you alone may spend these city funds as you see fit, though spending a fund on something other than the fund's original purpose may invite the wrath of the Senate.

Aqueduct
The best stonemasons Rome could offer were baffled by the Aqua Virgo.  The Aqueduct runs for more than thirteen miles to a spring about eight miles east of Rome – and yet the difference in elevation between its source and its terminus seems to be extremely slight, far slighter than the stonemasons of Rome were able to calculate.

The Aqua Virgo may well have escaped destruction because it is entirely underground outside the city.  This, however, also makes it very difficult to determine where the problems are, if any exist in the underground section.  The masons estimate that some parts could certainly be repaired, specifically the collection basin at the source itself (which is almost completely gone) and the above-ground section inside the walls (which is falling apart and is often picked at by local builders).

The masons estimate that it would take 4 Wealth and a year's work to make repairs on the aqueduct, but this is no guarantee it will function – if there are blockages or problems with the lengthy underground section, it might not function at all even once the above-ground repairs are complete.  There is nobody in the city with the expertise to survey, analyze, and repair the underground channels; the secrets of their construction were lost in the west, and are likely to remain only among the Greeks.

Colonna
Pietro Colonna ended up insisting upon dinner at his residence, not because he doubted the Senate's ability to escort him out, but because he worried that his "neighbors" would take the opportunity to loot his residence the moment he left.  He was an excellent host, somehow provided with fresh foods even despite this "siege," leading you to believe that he may not have been quite as much of a captive as he let on.  At the very least, it was clear that he had access to channels by which he could procure whatever he wanted from outside the city.

Pietro seemed indifferent as to the establishment of the Commune and underwhelmed by its achievements.  It had, he said, been eight years since the Senate established itself, and it had managed little in that time save to inconvenience the Popes.  He warned that the greatest threat to Roman liberty was not the Papacy itself, but the strongest noble house in Rome – the Frangipani.  He argued that the decline of the Tusculani was only to the benefit of Oddone Frangipane, who acquired most of the properties that Count Tolomeo had been forced to let go of, and that the Senate was playing into Oddone's hands by keeping his nemesis, Giordano Pierleoni, under siege in the Leonine City.  He believed that the presence of the Emperor would be short-lived and that the Senate should be more worried about the consequences of one family coming to dominate the whole of Latium.  It was impossible to read the man's motivations; Pietro Colonna seems to have a face trained to smile often but betray nothing.

After your meal, Pietro took the opportunity of your writ to leave the city with a few of his men, saying that he had urgent business at his estates in the Alban Hills and would return in the coming year.  It did not escape your attention that he took several cartloads of items with him, perhaps his valuables in the event that a Consular writ is insufficient to prevent the ransacking of his Roman residence.

Training and Military Matters
Your training schedule has been set up, and the oranges eaten.  Only time will tell if this new regimen will bolster the effectiveness of the Roman militia.  At the very least, it should stave off scurvy for a bit.

You have spent 4 Wealth this season, 1 of which has gone to the Consular defense fund.  You have also gained 3 Wealth this season.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Fortis Calafatus]Your position, Consul, has become rather precarious.  While your support among the populous has remained constant, the Senatorial class has lost some faith in your ability to lead after the St. Ignatius' Day riots and the destruction of the Senate house.  Whether you succeeded in getting rid of the Patrician is not yet clear, but Oddone Frangipane's agent was obviously unable to get a hold of him.  His family's hold on the Leonine City and Trastevere does not appeared to have suffered.

House Guard
Your guard has not gotten off to an auspicious start.  It was easy enough finding poor craftsmen and laborers to volunteer, many of whom had been at Tivoli, but these were still men without militia training and lacking in equipment – the smiths of Rome cannot turn out a hundred mail hauberks in a month.  As a result, they were crushed with heavy casualties in October.  You have since reformed the unit, but it has been made clear to you that it will take time to build these men into a fighting force worthy of the name and they will probably not be fully equipped until spring or summer.

Finding and fixing up a building suitable for a barracks is not difficult or costly, but many of the men object to sleeping in a drafty barracks when they would rather be at home with their fires, larders, and working tools.  Though it is a step up in accommodations for some of the poorest of them, most prefer to sleep at home.

Training twice a week was not possible early in autumn considering how busy the Romans are this season, but as winter approaches the men have more time on their hands and do not mind being pulled away from their labors as much.

Mission to the Greeks
You have assembled a party of craftsmen and agents to travel to Constantinople, the magnificent capital of the Emperor of the Greeks and the largest and richest city in the world.  They intend to depart from Ancona, a Byzantine-allied city northeast of Rome.  Unfortunately, it would be extremely dangerous to make the voyage with winter so close at hand.  Your team has set out for Ancona this season, but they will not depart from that city until sailing season resumes again in the spring, and may not return to Italy until a year from now.

Though your family advisers have no direct experience in dealing with the Greeks, they mention that it may be wise to send some manner of gift to the Greek Emperor to aid your party's mission and to start relations between Rome and Constantinople on a pleasant note.  If you wish to do this, there is still time before the party departs in the spring.

Roman Legions
The conquest of the Lateran, though bloody, allowed at least this part of your orders to be fulfilled.  The most important work on Roman military history and engineering is De Re Militari, written by an ancient Roman writer named Vegetius.  There were no known copies in Rome – until the Pope's private library came into Communal possession with the fall of the Lateran, and you procured the Pope's personal copy from Consul Basile.  De Re Militari is the only known work on Roman military practices that survived the Empire's fall intact.  The book covers recruitment, training, tactics, the maintenance of supply lines and communications, the construction of siegecraft, qualities of a good leader, and contains wise military maxims like the famous si vis pacem para bellum – "if you want peace, prepare for war."

Coastal Survey
Your agents have traveled to the Latin coast to scout sites for a possible port.  Finding the cost between the Tiber mouth and Ardea to be no more than a long stretch of sand and wholly unsuitable for a commercial port, they decided to expand the breadth of their search somewhat.  They reported on the following sites, listed from north to south.

Palo is a castle on the coast due west and slightly north of Rome, about halfway between Rome and Civitavecchia.  It was built only 20 years ago and belongs to the Orsini family, a fairly minor but still notable noble house that owns several fiefs north of Rome.  There is no natural harbor here, though the headland does provide some small measure of shelter.  The placement relative to Rome is good; it lies on the ancient Via Aurelia, the Roman road that travels from Rome along the Tuscan coast, and there is already a castle in place to provide some defense if it can be bought or taken from the Orsini.  A village does surround Palo, but the native population is small and the port settlement would have to be largely built from scratch.

Portus and Ostia (Gregoriopolis) are the sites of Rome's ancient ports.  Unfortunately, silt from the Tiber has pushed the coastline outwards over the centuries, and now the ruins of these two ports are a mile inland.  A new port would have to be built from scratch, though the area has obvious advantages.  For one, a port at the Tiber's mouth would allow some goods to be taken by barge from Rome, making transport to the port more efficient (and two Roman roads lead directly to these locations as well).  The river could also provide some protection for ships during a storm, and the town of Gregoriopolis provides a ready base camp for workers to live in and operate from.  There are, however, environmental issues – for one, there are marshes nearby that are said to produce malarial miasmas, and if the Tiber experiences a major flood it could damage the port or even affect the course of the river.

Nettuno lies a few miles past Ardea.  It is a fortified town that lies just east of the ancient Roman city of Antium.  Like Gregoriopolis, Nettuno was built further east of the original settlement (Antium) to protect the few remaining residents from Saracen raids, and like Gregoriopolis it is still inhabited, but only by a small number of local villagers.  Antium/Nettuno provides the best natural harbor of the three sites and is easily deep enough for Mediterranean shipping, and the headland could be fortified (though there are no castles there presently save for the fortifications of Nettuno itself).  Nettuno is far enough from the Pontine Marshes to not be terribly unhealthy, and there are woods to the north that might provide a useful resources for ship construction.  The primary disadvantage of the site is its location – it is certainly the furthest from Rome of the three prospective sites, and though there is access via a Roman road, it would be an inconveniently long journey for merchants and as long as enemies hold the heights around Tusculum any Roman caravans on the road would be at their mercy.

You have spent 3 Wealth this Season.  You have lost 1 Influence.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Vittorio Manzinni]Tivoli
It is likely that your forged missive reached Tivoli, but it does not appear to have worked; whether it was revealed as a fake or simply ignored is unknown to you.  Your observers, however, did uncover something interesting – the people of Tivoli are rebuilding, which was no surprise, but they seem to be aided by regular shipments of supplies coming from the castle of Monticellorum about five miles northwest of Tivoli.  The castle is known to have recently come into the hands of the Frangipani.

Cardinals
You believe there to be around 35 current cardinals, though not all of them participate in every Papal conclave; currently about five of them are out of the country, acting as Papal legates to Germany, Lombardy, and Scandinavia.  The allegiances of the members of the Papal Curia are not common knowledge, not even to the Abbot of Subiaco, who is not a member of the Curia himself.  Rumor has it that the most likely successor at this time is the current Dean of the College of Cardinals, Corrado Demetri della Suburra, Cardinal-Bishop of Sabina and the uncle of the Cardinal-Vicar Gregorio della Suburra who led the recent defense of the Lateran.  The Dean is from a Roman family, so he may be sympathetic to the city, but he is also eighty years old, and may himself die before the Papal seat is vacant.

Other
Rome has few private ships.  There are fewer than half a dozen seaworthy vessels, all of them roundships for trading, as well as a few dozen small fishing boats that are suited only for fishing on the Tiber.

While the roads are sometimes made unsafe by bandits, most of these are local peasants who have turned to robbery in the face of starvation, not organized groups with leaders.  As for pilgrims, they are rare in this season and it may not be until the spring that any bandits targeting pilgrims begin to show themselves.  The travelers you invited did discuss rumors of the mountain-folk of Rieti attacking the lands of the Abbot of Farfa; they have been making the roads there somewhat unsafe, but they seem mostly interested in usurping fiefdoms of the abbey and harassing the monks rather than making things tough for pilgrims and travelers.

Your letter has been dispatched to Egypt, but it is unlikely that you will get a response until sailing season resumes in the spring.[/spoiler]

[ooc=HEY YOU, READ THIS]Hi there!  This turned out to be a monster update and went in a very different direction than I originally anticipated.  You can thank sparkbot for some of that, and my creative ways of interpreting sparkbot's results for the rest of it.  Anyway, the update is not yet done - I have not updated the front page stats or the maps, nor have I responded to some very important letters that need responses.  You may go ahead and post if you like, but I would refrain from posting OOC orders or anything particularly decisive until I complete the update later tonight.

As before, please let me know if you find any errors or omissions here.  I hope that I overlooked some order or expenditure, but I also wouldn't be surprised.Thanks![/ooc]

[LD]

Other Political Issues of the season:

What I'm reading from Polycarp's post, in addition to the posted issues:
1. "Lord Jesus, stop the slaughter!"
2. "The Emperor is coming!  Who will defend us?"
3. "Pierlone must pay for this treachery!"
4. "Arnold of Brescia is a great man.  We should protect him."
5. "Consul Calafatus is too bloodthirsty to lead."

We also have:
1. 2 Senators (kidnapped?)
2. Defense Fund (more money in, spend it now, spend it on what?)
3. Aqueducts and Building and rebuilding the city
4. Pierleoni in Western Part of City
5. Mercenary Captives (100) what to do with them?
6. Roman Senate Judges
7. New Place for Senate to Meet

[Polycarp]

[ooc=Next Update]I believe everything should be just about updated now.  If there are any letters I've missed or other issues, let me know.  The due date for orders is now Wednesday, February 22nd.  As ever, contact me if you need more time, and I will accommodate you.[/ooc]

[ic=To the Senate]Citizens of Rome,

We have received the entreaties of the people of Rome and must first lay aside their errors.  Surely the Romans must know that the Imperial crown is bestowed not by the grace of men, but by the grace of God alone.  In offering it, they ostentatiously presume a power which they do not possess, and an honor that is not theirs to bestow.

We are informed that His Holiness Eugene III is still barred from the city of Saint Peter under threat of his life, denied his lawful patrimony and shamefully excoriated by rebels and schismatics sheltered by the Roman people and their councilors.  The belligerence and disloyalty of the Romans belies their peaceful words and conciliatory gestures.

We intend to receive Our rightful crown in Rome at a time of Our choosing, regardless of the will of Roman councilors, and at that time We will reward the faithful and punish the rebellious.  If the people of Rome desire to reconcile themselves with their lawful lord before We arrive to pass Our judgment, they may dispatch at once their chosen representatives to the city of Konstanz, make there the submission of their city to Us, and offer an explanation for their shameless behavior.  If such representatives are not sent, We will understand that no explanation exists.

His August Majesty Fredericus the First, by the Grace of God King of the Romans and of the Germans.[/ic]

[ic=To the Senate]The cloak of lies has been cast aside, and the treacherous and vile intentions of Fortis Calafatus have been laid bare for all to see.  I have only to wonder whether the Senate of Rome was complicit in this monstrous attempt at the life of a patriot of Rome, or whether they were kept in the dark by this malefactor.  I presume it to be the latter, for I do not wish to think ill of the August men of the Senate.  Regardless of their intentions, however, their reputation has been blackened by the actions of a man who uses their title of honor to cover for his murderous deeds.

The very idea that my brother intended to kill the Consul is laughable on its face.  He came under the promise of reconciliation with no more than thirty men into the Consul's own estate, deep in the Commune's territory, while the Consul had more than a hundred armsmen waiting there.  The worst kind of fool would not look at this and think that my brother had been planning an assassination.  In any case, the Consul is hardly known to us, and we have no reason to kill him – but all have heard how hungry Calafatus is for glory, and it is not hard to see that he thought to further glorify himself as the conqueror of our House.  A man who would stop at nothing to accumulate power for himself is a man dangerous not only to his enemies, but to his "friends," for they will be quickly dispensed with once he has what he wants.

My brother was preparing an offer of reconciliation with the Senate and was prepared to present it at the meeting he expected to have with Consul Calafatus.  I will give it to Consul Basile instead, and he may do what he wills with it.  I personally have no mind to reconcile with a Senate led by such a man as Fortis Calafatus, but these are my brother's wishes, and I will carry them out until he has regained his health.

[spoiler=A Proposal of Peace, to Consul Basile]The Senate wishes that I be humbled, and I wish the respect I am due from my service to Rome; so be it.  My proposal is as follows.

I will withdraw my forces from Trastevere and all the streets of Rome outside the Leonine City.  I will surrender the Theater of Marcellus to the Senate.  I will pledge my loyalty to the Senate, and pay an annual duty of [1 Wealth] to the Senate for my privileges and honors.

In exchange, the Senate will confirm my title of Patrician.  The duties of this title shall be that I will retain the Leonine City and the Castle of St. Angelo and administer them as castellan, enforcing the laws of the Senate and People of Rome and assisting in its defense within that domain.  I will be confirmed as a Citizen of Rome, but I will permanently forswear any ambition at Senatorial office so long as I hold my title of Patrician.

Finally, I will relinquish my family house on the Tiber Island, and give it to my brother Ruggero.

Those are my terms.  I will entertain negotiations on the finer points, but I believe the broader ones are fair and reflect both the wishes of the Senate to have supreme authority and my wishes to retain my properties, my titles, and my honor.

Giordano Pierleoni[/spoiler][/ic]

[ic=To Consul Calafatus]Consul,

My foremost wish is that you refrain from aggression against my territories.  I have been brusque with certain Senators in the past but I am willing to lay that aside so long as the Romans confine their aggressions to their enemies and not make attempts against what is mine.  As the host of His Holiness, I find it unseemly to engage in further dealings with the Senate as long as he is unwelcome in Rome, but I presume that you will not interpret this as hostility on my part.

Tolomeo, Count of Tusculum, Prince of Latium[/ic]

[ic=To Consul Calafatus]Consul,

We feared only that the "protection" of sword-bearing men in our cloisters would differ very little from banditry.  If the Senate of Rome will guarantee our independence in our affairs, allow our monks to visit the city on their errands as they please, and refrain from garrisoning soldiers in the walls of our abbey, we will pay an annual tribute of [1 Wealth].

Tre Fontane[/ic]

[ic=To Consul Calafatus]Consul,

I have no particular needs of Rome and doubt my city has anything to offer you.  If you believe me mistaken, I will entertain your suggestions, but if it is an alliance you wish I am uninterested in conspiring against His Holiness the Pope.

Signore Crescentius Caetani, Lord of Ardea[/ic]

[Polycarp]

Other Political Issues of the season:

I would add to this only that the Senate needs to find a new place to meet.  That should be done this turn.