The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 148

148. Angevinism (1)

Old Henry felt a pang of regret as he gazed at his young and vibrant grandson.

‘To build a new Rome, not ancient Rome or Eastern Rome—is this truly the dream of such a young man?’ he wondered.

He reminisced about his own youth, when he was simply Henry, Count of Anjou.

Young Henry had faced many dangerous and cunning enemies. They denied his mother Matilda’s claim and insisted their definition of justice was the only true one. They possessed vast resources, while he had only one advantage: his youth.

When the future seemed bleak and he felt on the verge of surrender, he clung to a single, unwavering goal: to quell the British civil war at any cost and rise to become a true monarch.

Fueled by this resolve, Henry had declared to Matilda, the ‘Princess’ barred from becoming queen:

‘Mother, do not despair. I will vanquish all our enemies and become a great monarch of Britain, surpassing even King William, and I will weaken that vile French kingdom.’

At the time, it seemed an impossible dream.

Years passed, and Henry realized his ambition, though at a considerable cost.

He mourned the loss of two sons, Guillaume (his deceased eldest) and Prince Henry, and bore many lasting scars. Yet, Henry harbored no regrets.

Now, he beheld a grandson who harbored ambitions as grand as his own, perhaps even surpassing them.

‘Perhaps leaving behind such remarkable descendants is my true legacy,’ Henry mused.

“Hehe, James, you truly are young.”

“Grandfather?”

The Duke of Britain, Henry, smiled knowingly.

He sensed the youthful audacity in his grandson’s grand vision.

A third Rome.

With two Romes already established, the creation of a new one seemed an almost insurmountable task, even considering James’s lineage.

But if he were to succeed in this monumental undertaking, James would undoubtedly become a monarch surpassing even William the Conqueror.

The challenge lay in James needing to do more than simply safeguard the nation his predecessors had built; he had to achieve even greater feats.

The symbolic connection to ‘Rome’ was a fundamental requirement, and beyond merely bearing the name, he had to cultivate a prosperous, orderly, strong, and dignified power. It was, without a doubt, a lifelong endeavor fraught with difficulty.

After a moment of contemplation, Henry addressed his grandson.

“James.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“Are you confident? To realize your dream, you must become a monarch greater than myself in retirement, Richard, and John. Or perhaps you must tread a path even more arduous than that of William the Conqueror and more perilous than that of Charlemagne. To walk the path of a Roman Emperor is an immensely difficult undertaking.”

“Grandfather… I have made extensive preparations for my reign.”

James wasn’t relying solely on confidence, of course.

“How so?”

To Henry’s inquiry, James responded:

“First, I have secured my man. My second-in-command for life.”

“Second-in-command, you say?”

‘Come to think of it, James does have many talented individuals under his command,’ Henry mused.

Henry was already familiar with the young nobles his grandson employed. However, he was curious to know the identity of this particular second-in-command.

“Timothy.”

“Timothy?”

Henry’s eyes widened in surprise.

Timothy was the son of Peter, Henry’s own illegitimate son. In a sense, he was another grandson.

“Timothy is indeed a great talent, but is that all?”

“He, I, and other young and capable nobles have already devised a 50-year plan to build an empire. With this alone, Anjou will become a family more illustrious than any gold.”

James felt a surge of nervousness, having revealed all that he intended to. He didn’t believe he had said anything inappropriate to his grandfather. On the contrary, it was something the head of the Anjou family would likely be pleased to hear.

Henry remained silent for a moment, then spoke with a gentle expression.

“Possible. It is possible. Hehehe, I will dedicate my life to providing you with an English education.”

“I look forward to it.”

“I will mold you into a strong monarch, like Aeneas.”

“Pardon?”

James was taken aback by his grandfather’s unexpected mention of Aeneas, the legendary founder of ancient Rome.

“My beloved eldest grandson James, this great-grandfather will make you the father of the empire, unlike my simple sons.”

The Duke of Britain, Henry, smiled, his wrinkled lips betraying the same victorious expression he wore when he ended the British civil war in his youth.

A few days later.

James understood precisely why his grandfather had invoked the name of Aeneas.

“….”

Although James couldn’t verbally express his discomfort due to appearances, he struggled to conceal his reaction as he underwent rigorous training. Henry observed his grandson with affection, thinking:

‘I’ve gained a great disciple in my old age. I’ll push him even harder.’

While the benevolent John gently nurtured James, who was already excelling, the Anjou family had a long-standing tradition of providing its successors with a demanding education.

The traditional lessons commenced in that manner.

* * *

Throughout my life, many peculiar events have unfolded.

The news that my father, Duke Henry of Britain, who had retired and was spending his twilight years comforting old nobles and engaging in odd jobs, had discovered a new ‘odd job’ reached Aquitaine.

My father approached me with an impassioned expression and declared:

‘My grandson desires a third Rome, and I shall mold him into Aeneas.’

My son had confided in his grandfather his ambition to create a third Rome.

My father had volunteered to become my son James’s tutor.

James, who harbored a dream far grander and more magnificent than my own mere aspiration to absorb France, and my father, who vowed to properly educate such a James, were truly remarkable.

‘The Duke of Britain has personally hired more people to educate the Prince of Normandy.’

Simply witnessing the hiring of hundreds of assistant teachers filled me with a sense of my father’s madness, for lack of a better word.

Naturally, James, experiencing the spicy Anjou education for the first time, sought me out while I was hunting, and

‘Save me! It’s too hard!’ he whined, but I paid no heed to his complaints.

‘The Anjou family’s education is inherently harsh. Endure it with grit and determination! James.’

This is the true English education.

Undoubtedly, these would be challenging days for my son, but I had faith in my father. My father cherished me, so he would undoubtedly embrace my son James with love.

Yes, of course.

* * *

While John contemplated the warm bond between his father Henry and his son James, a similarly warm scene was unfolding elsewhere.

“That woman still misunderstands, doesn’t she? She doesn’t even realize that the reason we treat her well is because her husband offered minerals.”

“Hoh ho ho. Indeed.”

“Yes, that’s right, Mother.”

Eleanor and Mary were on amicable terms.

Mary had lost her biological mother at a young age.

Eleanor could be seen as having distanced herself from her daughters due to her lack of maternal instincts.

“Many things happen here that would never be possible in my homeland.”

“Of course, you handled it properly, right?”

“Naturally, Mother openly favors me. What can’t I accomplish? By the way, I miss Queen Sibylla.”

“Sibylla shouldn’t be burdened with in-law duties. We can’t exploit that poor child.”

“Then what about me?”

She addressed her daughter-in-law, who suddenly pointed at herself.

“Mary, are you also a pitiful daughter-in-law? I think the people who oppose you are the ones who are pitiful.”

“Knowing my background… aren’t you being too harsh? Consider how much I’ve suffered.”

Mary jested that the story of a princess who nearly met her demise at the hands of her own sister was quite tragic.

“You cunning thing.”

“Cunning? I, Mary, am as docile as a lamb and a dove.”

As they exchanged jokes, the door opened, and the head maid, Anne, announced with a polite demeanor:

“This is the report requested by the noble ladies.”

“I will review it; you may leave.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After reading the report, Eleanor commented:

“Those cunning individuals are selling the country for their own gain. This is an era of treason.”

“That’s right. Too many people disregard order for their own benefit.”

Mary and Eleanor were, in fact, the ones who were profiting greatly from those individuals, yet Mary sympathized with her mother-in-law’s words and gleefully condemned the traitors. Truly, neither of them possessed a conscience.

Before long, the conversation shifted to family matters.

“James is receiving direct lessons from Father.”

“Henry must have made up his mind properly. Well, what else can he do now that he has handed everything over to King Richard? He’s simply raising his grandson and doing odd jobs.”

“I’m truly looking forward to it. To what that child will learn.”

“If he’s your and John’s child, he’ll be exceptional.”

“Oh, right, Mother. You know that John is preparing something big these days, right?”

“Is it about the Anjou people?”

“Yes, that’s right, the Anjou people issue.”

As the two were conversing, new women appeared.

“We greet the two Duchesses.”

“Grandmother, Mother!”

The moment two beautiful women entered.

Eleanor wore an intrigued expression, while Mary’s was more complicated.

“I have completed all the tasks Mother ordered.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Mom, I rejected another proposal.”

“You crazy bitch!”

Because her daughter Elizabeth was too remarkable.

* * *

Today, life in Aquitaine was as bustling as ever.

Work, work, work.

Completing the immense amount of work to be done all day. And more work.

There’s so much work now.

Later, if I appoint my son James as the administrator of Aquitaine and relocate to Rouen, there will be even more work to do.

However, to enhance work efficiency, I will distribute, reduce, and simplify tasks as much as possible.

I completed the administrative task known as ‘Administrative Simplification.’

Of course, this endeavor was made possible by the eminent scholars, Song Dynasty slaves [People captured and enslaved from the Song Dynasty], and talents scouted from the Eastern Roman Empire [Byzantine Empire].

[As you predicted, Your Highness, the reduced workload has been further reduced.]

It had such a significant impact that even Peter acknowledged it.

I was in the process of addressing the tasks that had been put on hold while I was implementing administrative simplification.

I spoke plainly to my son, who had recently lost a considerable amount of weight.

“By the authority vested in me by the great King Richard I and as the Duke of Normandy, I hereby appoint you as the Count of Poitiers.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The highlight of successor training is delegating some authority.

Didn’t a certain sage proclaim that to truly know a person’s character, one must grant them power?

This is how I can pass on the burden to my son!

* * *

In reality, these are chaotic times.

‘Huh, why is it chaotic when France is standing still?’ some may inquire, but regardless, these are chaotic times. These are chaotic times when Safe John could transform into Dangerous John at any moment! In any case, that’s the situation!

And starting with Aquitaine, England is undergoing a transformation. It has become more prosperous and is attracting the wealth of the Holy Roman Empire.

Why did the affluent England lose to the Kingdom of France in the Hundred Years’ War?

Was it because of heroes like Joan of Arc, Bertrand du Guesclin, and Charles V? Or because of the war of succession they initiated among themselves?

While the aforementioned factors contributed to the defeat, the most decisive reason was that the French people awakened to the realization that they were French, not merely descendants of the Franks.

I am someone who desires the Kingdom of France to vanish from history or revert to the small Frankish kingdom of its early days.

To achieve this, we must retain as much territory and as many people as possible from the lands ruled by the Angevin dynasty of England.

Therefore, I summoned my capable vassals and declared:

“I have finally completed it.”

I shared a new development with them: the culmination of my long-term preparations.

There is nothing that cannot be expressed in this world. However, demonstrating responsibility is the mark of a true ruler.

‘Promises must be accompanied by responsibility. The Third World War occurred because they failed to grasp this fundamental principle.’

I have created such an alternative.

Perhaps the focus on high school and Sunday school is all for this purpose.

“Is this the progress we have strived so hard to achieve?”

Amiar, the knight from France, inquired with a curious expression.

“Indeed, it is.”

An Angevin ethnic collective, akin to the United States in the distant future, but with a slightly different structure.

Just as the Roman senators forged Roman citizens and Han Gaozu Liu Bang created the Han Chinese, Safe John is now forging the Angevins.

A few days later, as the ruler of Aquitaine, I convened the Estates-General [A representative assembly of the three estates of the realm: the clergy, nobility, and commoners] and, before the people’s representatives, quoted the words of a 20th-century French politician.

“The Angevin race is a grand synthesis. It encompasses everything. Neither linguistic studies nor culture can resist this reality. There is no room for division, even among those who share the same faith. Only the qualities and dedication of the Angevins matter, as long as they are filled with true and verified conviction. Those who enjoy peace under the great rule of Richard I, ah, ah, you are the Angevins.”

It marked the beginning of Angevinism.