>>6450272
The actual meeting and session was to be held in the great hall of the Albrechtsburg. Most of the tables had been put aside, and chairs and seats from elsewhere had been fetched to accommodate the large number of attendees. Yet it certainly wouldn't be the sole host for the pomp and circumstance of the event.

There would be a procession of the gathered attendants through the main avenue first and then to the hall, where they would pledge their renewed allegiance to the king. The loud blaring of the trumpets would fill the halls and courtyard. Yet it was still a few hours off, so you still had time to prepare for their eventual arrival.

Breakfast was joined by your family. In particular, your only son, the crown prince, had been spearheading the project that required the convention of the Landtag in the first place. The renovation and expansion of Rittersbach.

Money, you can never have enough of it, nor can you ever spend enough of it. Since the founding of the kingdom, you and your father had been able to keep the pursestrings a royal prerogative through maintaining various war taxes upon the estates of the realm. Even if it was peace.

"So what will happen here?" Crownprince Dietrich asked, and truth be told, you didn't know, you had tried your best to reign without needing to rely on a diet or parliament, but the situation was becoming increasingly grim. When the burghers and nobles unite, you can do little but negotiate.

>We will wait and see.
>I don't know, but I intend to come out of it with my powers uncurtailed.
>It will be a conference unlike any other, though I don't intend to let those two estates be united for much longer.
>A meeting unlike any other; for parliamentarism will come, and I intend to integrate myself into it.

>>6450273
>I don't know, but I intend to come out of it with my powers uncurtailed.
Or as much as reasonably possible kek.

Also Adle. how did the exams go?

>>6450273
>A meeting unlike any other; for parliamentarism will come, and I intend to integrate myself into it.
Straightforward resistance will only be met with redoubled efforts. We need to outsmart them instead. Let them think they have power, but leave the actual levers in our hands

>>6450282
>how did the exams go?
One good, one poorly

>>6450302
On the bright side only one re-exam. Manageable all things considered if you start the prepwork early enough.

>>6450273
>It will be a conference unlike any other, though I don't intend to let those two estates be united for much longer.
Welcome back Adle!

The main reason we are having this landtag in the first place is because of their alliance. Unfortunately we need their cooperation so there are going to be concessions, but I dont want a full blown parliament yet because our bureaucracy is still too new and I don't want to waste all our efforts in centralizing only to give it away.

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A plan was formulating in the depths of your mind; obviously, you would make certain your prerogatives and privilege would remain as unchecked as possible, while at the same time you would throw them a bone or two if you believed it would appease them. Indeed, not all fronts are as united as they appear from the outside.

Burghers and nobles are not friends in normal circumstances. Snobbery aside, the mercantile classes often pursue a more open trade policy which, while internally opposed by the guilds, still finds its main opponents in the nobility, who fear that an influx of cheap foods and other raw goods would lessen the income of their estates. A fear you could play on, perhaps.

Aside from that, there is, of course, the generational issue within both estates, the older ones were used to the times of your father, who maintained a looser hand in many matters, even if he laid the foundation for what you were now building. The younger men of the realm saw in your high-handed approach an opportunity for change and progress, careers as your councillors and administrators. Younger sons, those who stood to inherit only a pittance of their familial estates or nothing at all, were often dependent either on the patronage of a greater lord or on you, with them often becoming judges, castellans, or diplomats in your service. Because receiving your salary from a king made working a slight bit less embarrassing in front of your fellows.

Then again, you could always offer them increased control over their peasants if that is what it required, reversing a slow erosion of serfdom, though the institution remained remarkably strong in rural places. But it was only an option; you wouldn't need to take it, not yet at least.

As for the burghers, it was as mundane and petty as could be expected, with infernal screeches about their tax money being used in 'frivolities' like renovating the capital, too-high tariffs, and not enough support with the dues collected by the King of Toldmark, who on occasion extracted dues from all ships entering and exiting the Armentic Sea. The typical bourgeois groaning you could just as easily hear on the market or in the trade hall. In ordinary circumstances you would make no note of it; you kept the roads safe, the ports open and provided them with a place to conduct business. As long as you didn't shift too much of a tax burden on them, they would keep their grumbling to themselves, but these weren't ordinary circumstances.

And then there was the wildcard of the bunch, the first estate, the clergy; all the bishops and archbishops would most certainly be in attendance, even if their numbers would be spectacularly low. Greifswald only boasted two archbishops, one in Tanzig and the other in Libau, north and south; both of them combined had about eleven dioceses between them. But the more influential monasteries and abbeys would send their heads as well, though you doubted there would be an abbess or anything of the like.
(1/3)

>>6450641
Tauten customary law always holds that the husband shall represent his spouse in all legal matters, and even if they bore the title in their own right, there wouldn't be any ladies here. Save for the queen and whoever wished to watch from the sidelines. And the church wouldn't upset that custom.

So you did have a plan and an objective. Though before properly committing you would like to get some measure of what these two estates could muster to stand before you. Ordinarily, nobody would dare accuse their king of bad policy, for that would imply that one chosen by the gods was in the wrong, and that would imply that the gods were wrong. So they would most likely demand the resignation of your advisors. As surely it was the advisors who were leading the king astray, and not the king consciously making those decisions.

It was the type of mind game you didn't have the patience for; no, you remember all too well how you let those Varangians slaughter those eunuchs. Toffs, the lot of them; if only you could settle such matters on the battlefield, where your true talents lie, but that would hurt the realm more than it would fix it. But it would be a battle of words, one over which you would need to both preside, moderate, and debate.

You went back to the drawing room to get properly enrobed in the fine details of your kingship: the robes, the cloak, the rings, the crown, and Silberkralle in a ceremonial scabbard that weighed more than the sword itself. That alone took an hour to put on properly; you would also be slowed by all of this stuff, so you made your way downstairs as quickly but steadily as several pounds of gold, cloth, ermine, and gems could allow. The weight of your regal attire felt like a burden; heavy is the head that bears the crown. You almost kicked yourself for that cliché thought.

You then sat upon your throne, recently gilded, though the base was still wood, but the gold would keep out the rot and the worms. Or at least that was the intention; a cushion and draped furs made it all the more comfortable. You took a deep breath, preparing yourself for the day ahead as you gazed out at the courtiers waiting for them to enter the chamber. You looked to your side; at least your queen would be alongside you for this.

And with the first blast of the trumpets, the first estate came, mitres and staffs borne by men in white robes. Archbishops in front, followed by bishops and priests, all bowing before you as a sign of fealty. They did something with their heads so the mitre didn't fall off before they turned and took their allocated seats. Indeed, they were few in number and only took up two benches.
(2/3)

>>6450643
Then the trumpets sounded again, and forth came the lords of the realm, all endowed with ermine cloaks and hats, surcoats underneath, and ceremonial swords at their sides; only your councillors weren't in this procession, as they had their own seats. They came and bowed as well, white-bearded magnate and pimple-ridden lordling alike. The first among them was your son, who, as crown prince, ranked as the highest and greatest of them all. They took up a good chunk of benches, more than either the burghers or the clergy was allowed, but they weren't an absolute majority. Especially with the elven princes among them.

Tall as they were, their splendour had been there from the moment their ship came up the river, and even here they certainly cut a figure in contrast to the human nobles. Though they didn't comment much upon it and simply took their seats as well.

Lastly, came the mayors of the cities, representing the burghers as the urban elite. The Lord Mayor of Rittersbach came first, with the others forming a double file behind him. There was authority about them, though not the martial kind that the nobles possessed. Their authority came from their business acumen, and they were eager to show it.

They were crass in their taste, excessive and loud, as many insecure of their station often were. Their boisterous laughter and ostentatious displays of wealth stood out starkly against the sophisticated demeanour of the nobles. They took their places and fell silent as the heavy, craven spruce wooden doors shut.

The chamberlain slammed his staff against the stone floor, signalling the beginning of the meeting. It was time for you to make your opening statement. Which always began with the same words.

"We, Albrecht, by the grace of the gods, King of Greifswald, Prauthen and the Vollinger Mark, et cetera, et cetera, do hereby open this Landtag."
(3/3)
>It is my hope that you, my most loyal and esteemed subjects, will bring forth your wisdom and counsel.
>I summoned you here today to address both grievances and problems, in such a way as only a gathering of this proportion can bring.
>In the name of the common weal, you have been brought here in the common interest of the realm and its people.
>Write-in.

>>6450646
>It is my hope that you, my most loyal and esteemed subjects, will bring forth your wisdom and counsel.

>>6450646
>In the name of the common weal, you have been brought here in the common interest of the realm and its people.
This sets a tone that forces them to frame their upcoming "grievances" around the realm's benefit rather than their personal pockets.

>>6450646
>>In the name of the common weal, you have been brought here in the common interest of the realm and its people.

"In the name of the common weal, you have been brought here in the common interest of the realm and its people." The opening line of your speech brought the eyes of the room upon you. The common weal, that to which all should strive, is a realm united and strong, with virtuous clergy, brave nobles, shrewd burghers, and diligent peasants.

"We are pleased, then, to see so many of you before us, our lords and commons united in brotherly accord, as the senate and populace of the old empire were in the golden age. We, as your king, are not blind to your struggles and grievances, both true and unfounded, and we are committed to addressing them with fairness and justice." You read from a parchment the chancellor had prepared for you the night before, with you dictating and a scribe meticulously transcribing your words.

The crowd before you murmured in both agreement and quiet discussion. You continued on with your speech, speaking about both ancient rights and customs to be upheld, and new laws and reforms to be implemented for the betterment of the kingdom. Before finally opening the floor for petitions.

The first to be able to submit anything would be the clergy. Though they stayed quiet before the summons, there was not much for them to bring forth, as their status had remained effectively the same as it always was. The reduction in unspoken power since the collapse of the Order aside. Most of it was minute things, state donations for a new chapel roof, and the gifting of land for a new monastery. Things that wouldn't cost too much effort or money, and so you declared that you would look into it, for religion came above all other matters. At least in the eyes of the clergy.

Though you knew that with them out of the way, now would come the piece de resistance. From their benches they rose, burgher and noble alike. Hidden defiance behind polite submission. The same as it ever was. Though formally they were two separate groups, in truth they spoke with one word.

"We lords and burghers, united in a good and common cause, do hereby make it known before his majesty that we must protest in the strongest of terms these plans concerning the usage of so much tax money in the renovation of Rittersbach. While Your Majesties must, of course, have a capital worthy of hosting your royal court, we believe that the burden on the realm is too great. It is our belief that these plans were obviously made without proper consideration for the financial strain they will place on the people, as well as being so expansive that certain individuals might be able to skim off the top for personal gain. We humbly request that Your Majesty reconsider these plans and seek alternative solutions.''

>>6451002
The other, seated, lords started to murmur and discuss matters. From your throne, you spotted Crown Prince Dietrich shooting an uncharacteristically icy glare at the speaker. You don't blame him; much of the planning behind the renovation was his, and he had put a lot of effort into ensuring it was well thought out.

But it wasn't him that spoke up first, but one of your councillors. The treasurer, as a matter of fact. "My lords, Your Majesty, I would like to reassure all of you that these plans have been approved and vetted by the royal council. We have received His Majesty's blessing in enacting these plans. We have the records and the documentation to prove that none of what you alleged has actually happened. No, quite the contrary as a matter of fact."

"That may be so, but it is the principle that counts. If indeed we are contributing to the common weal, as His Majesty has been so good to remind us, then we must ensure transparency and accountability in all our actions. Therefore, we would like to propose the creation of a new oversight committee comprised of both royal council members and representatives from both the lords and the mayors to help ensure continued ethical conduct and adherence to the highest standards of governance."

So that's their game, is it? To try and downsize or sabotage your renovation plans, or is it just an old-fashioned power grab? Hidden behind the most innocent and well-intentioned of proposals. What a bunch of weasels. But enough; it was time for you to speak on the matter.

> "And you would love a seat on such a committee, I take it?" An innocent phrase, but with disguised sarcasm.
> "Forgive me if I misheard, but are you implying that my own councillors, men whom I entrust with great responsibilities?"
>"And what would such a committee bring that wouldn't be achieved with the council?"
>Write-in

>>6451003
>"Forgive me if I misheard, but are you implying that my own councillors, men whom I entrust with great responsibilities?"

>>6451003
>"Forgive me if I misheard, but are you implying that my own councillors, men whom I entrust with great responsibilities?"

>>6451003
> "Forgive me if I misheard, but are you implying that my own councillors, men whom I entrust with great responsibilities?"
We could create a Royal Audit Office. It would give them the transparency they've been asking while also strengthening the bureaucracy.

You shifted about a bit on your throne, leaning forward to indicate your interest in the conversation. A subtle move, but one which the more observant at court knew was the prelude to your intervention. Indeed, a glance at you and the treasurer fell silent, awaiting your judgement in the matter.

And you weren't about to allow some lord to walk all over your pick of advisors. A king selects his own councillors, and you chose on merit and loyalty, not on the whims of entitled nobles seeking to jockey for greater power. But you know the game being played here; a king can't be bad; it's his councillors, if anything, who are at fault. Cope for the commoners, an easy excuse for those who wish to see their rivals removed from office.

"Forgive me if I misheard, but are you implying that my own councillors, men whom I entrust with great responsibilities, are misusing my trust?" You spoke in a neutral, diplomatic tone, careful not to directly take a side but making certain that this delagation knew where the line was drawn.

The delegation shifted uncomfortably, realising they had overstepped their bounds. "Of course not, Your Majesty," they replied hastily, trying to backtrack and trying to regain their footing. The speaker up to this point was a count of middle age, uninteresting by most measures. His lands were neither rich nor prosperous; he had enough sons, though none excelled in a specific field. But his part was finished, the delegation shuffled, and a new figure stepped forward to address you.

Longhaired and tall, with a youthful spirit burning intently in his seafoam green eyes, he exuded an air of confidence that seemed to come easy to him, but you could see from the looks of the other members that he was going off the beaten path.

"Your majesty, if I may be so bold as to speak." He spoke those words clearly and quickly enough that the others didn't have the time to tell him to hold his tongue. It was what you were looking for, like a wavering section in the enemy line, just begging to be sent into a rout with a well timed charge.

"You may speak, young man; the floor is yours." You announced with a whiff of your hand, signalling for him to continue. In a lot of ways this wasn't according to plan; you had expected discussions like this to stall, with you then having to settle matters behind the scenes. But it wasn't according to their plan as well. And that was something you were eager to exploit.

"I cannot speak for all of us, but among those for whom I speak, I would stress our express loyalty to the throne; we didn't come here to jostle for power or to try and upend the current order. We simply want to ensure that our voices are heard."

He paused a bit, while various members of this faction began to shoot icy glares at each other.

>>6451252
"There hasn't been a Landtag since the times before your late father; we younger generations are eager to have a say in the decisions that affect our future. We do not act in dissent, nor do we seek to disrupt the peace that has been maintained for so long. Our intentions are simple and pure; it is, of course, your right and prerogative to enact policy as you see fit, but we ask only for the opportunity to be heard and considered in the process."

He then reached the cresendo of his speech.

"It is of course also your right to levy taxes and then spend them as you see fit, but please remember that we are the ones who pay these taxes, and we only ask for transparency and accountability, even if you do not agree with our opinions. You at the very least take our opinions into account."

>So you wish for this body to meet more frequently?
>Such fears can be allayed, I hope, by creating an office of oversight to ensure transparency and accountability in public spending.
>Write-in.

>>6451253
>Such fears can be allayed, I hope, by creating an office of oversight to ensure transparency and accountability in public spending.

>>6451253
>Such fears can be allayed, I hope, by creating an office of oversight to ensure transparency and accountability in public spending.

>>6451253
>"Of course, it is only right that the Landtag be held more often so all may gather to discuss the state of the Kingdom! The capital has been expanded to accommodate such things!"

The nobles want a Landtag? Give them one but keep an absolutely brutal political schedule constantly summoning them to the capital for sessions, accepting no substitutions for representatives. Basically we want to concentrate power here forcing the noble class to constantly gather under our nose.

>>6451328
>>6451329
Adding this to my vote, now;
>Such fears can be allayed, I hope, by creating an office of oversight to ensure transparency and accountability in public spending.
>"Of course, it is only right that the Landtag be held more often so all may gather to discuss the state of the Kingdom! The capital has been expanded to accommodate such things!"

Another thing I recommend is if they are unwilling to participate, then they can only be absent, which is equivalent to abstaining, meaning it effectively benefits others. They could be housed in the royal palace kinda like Versailles.

>>6451253
>Such fears can be allayed, I hope, by creating an office of oversight to ensure transparency and accountability in public spending.

>>6451253
>Such fears can be allayed, I hope, by creating an office of oversight to ensure transparency and accountability in public spending.

>>6451259
>>6451328
>>6451391
>>6451467

Why would we create an office to audit ourselves? It's like putting a fox in the henhouse. We want to keep the power not hand it over to someone, centralization is our goal. Summoning the Landtag more literally just uses laws and traditions that already exist, let's them blow off steam and allows us to bring them all in.

Plus they will want a "neutral" party in charge of this new office. If we just put our patsy in it nothing will have changed and they will see it.

>>6451512
Because if we create it, we decide who goes in it. And they can't demand a neutral party because we are the neutral party, because their approach was that our advisors are unreliable, not us.

>>6451512
Because majority of the nobility in this office will be junkers who firmly support the crown judging from the young lord's speech.

Though I did add your vote cause were gonna have to concede something to the older nobility if we want them to follow our orders obediently, but like now we might have to screw over the burghers or lower class if we ever do so. Pls remember we currently still have to rely on them for our armies.

This might potentially the last landtag and if so we might have to go full sun king lol.

"Such fears can be allayed, I hope, by creating an office of oversight to ensure transparency and accountability in public spending." You had heard of such a thing before; in far-off Aurilie, the king had created a chamber of audit to oversee his income and expenditures. While in parliamentarian Angenland, the king had the exchequer calculate his. A Rechnungskammer could thus not only be a way to increase transparency of the government but also give yourself an easy way to monitor and control public spending.

Another idea briefly flashes through your mind, though in autocracy in all forms, Mithras too retained its senate, though it was effectively powerless. Filled with the elite of the empire, who all where attracted to the capital like flies to a soup. Though the intrinsically rural nature of the feudal nobility might mean your attempts to replicate it one-to-one might fall short. Holed up in their castles, enfeoffed to them in what was effectivly perpetuality. But there might be ways to break that paradigm.

You were pulled out of your thoughts by the reaction of the delagation. The younger, lower, and poorer lords, those who stood to gain from your policy of state building, were nodding in agreement while the older, wealthier nobles remained sceptical. A rift had obviously grown in this faction, one which you had further exacerbated with your words. The previous speaker looked at the young lord with contempt and surprise and even a twinge of betrayal.

Behind the lords, however, the mayors were all huddled in whispered conversation, clearly plotting their own course of action. All the while on the benches, the other lords and mayors were watching the unfolding drama with keen interest. Trying to see what the outfall of this would be. But you decided that enough was enough; the Landtag could last a very long time, so you decided to put an end to the matter for the time being.

"Young lord, your integrity and candour are to be commended; your words have struck a chord with many of us here today," you declared, standing up to address the room. "Your idea seems to have promise, and were I to realise such an office, I might call upon you sometime. In the meantime, I would like to honour you by inviting you to my table at the banquet tonight."

The rift had now been completed. Whether you wished to actually make use of him or not, by publicly honouring him you alienated one wing of the faction from the other. He bowed his head in respect, while those who supported him looked on with approval, and those who opposed him simmered with resentment.

For now, however, the discussion was as closed as could be; other lords were now allowed to come forth with petitions. One asked for the legitimisation of a bastard, as his trueborn heir had died of the pox; another petitioned for relief, as the summer drought had devastated his crops. Both of which you granted, mostly because they cost you nothing and because they made you look good.

Then came the mayors with their petitions, an endless stream about tariffs, high taxes, asking for privileges concerning entrepôt status, and requesting leniency in trade regulations. You listened patiently; you denied some, agreed to others, and promised to look into some matters before making a final judgement.
After all that, you decided to adjourn this session, since it was still a summer day. And by now the warmth of the day was beginning to properly settle in, even behind thick castle walls.

As you made your way back to your chambers, you couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at how smoothly the day had gone. You still had to deal with those other members of the delegation, but you had a runner give their presumed leader a note to meet you before the banquet.

You rested for a bit after all the discussions, debates and other political games that had taken place throughout the day. As you had withdrawn to your chambers, you did wonder, should you offer some concessions as a compromise, or should you press the advantage while you still had it?

The crusader within you leaned to the second option. What good is not striking the iron while it's hot? You have them on the ropes, not the other way around. The monarch within you leaned to the former; the nobles under his influence were still a powerful block to deal with, and you would prefer to keep rebellion and bloodshed between Greifswalders to a minimum.

>I shall see what he has to say, but I have no intention to concede on anything.
>Compromise is what governs all nations of the planet; I am prepared to make certain concessions.

>>6451572
>>I shall see what he has to say, but I have no intention to concede on anything.

>>6451572
>Compromise is what governs all nations of the planet; I am prepared to make certain concessions.
Hear them out first.

>>6451572
>Compromise is what governs all nations of the planet; I am prepared to make certain concessions.