The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 149

149. Angevin Ideology (2)

Just as there’s a world for legitimate children like John and Richard, there’s also one for those born outside of marriage, like Peter and Godfrey.

The former, by virtue of their noble birth, must be cautious in their governance, while the latter, due to their low status, must be careful simply to survive.

Godfrey and Peter, belonging to the latter group, once despaired over their circumstances. However, with Prince John’s help, they overcame the stigma of being bastards and rose to become his trusted aides.

Therefore, they were assisting with John’s most ambitious project: the ‘Angevin’ initiative.

“This must not disappoint our lord.”

“Then show me the results.”

“Yes, brother.”

“The Angevin ideology of national integration…”

Godfrey’s expression was serious as he reviewed the final draft, having been deeply involved in the plan himself. To avoid disappointing John, the benevolent lord they depended on, the conclusion had to be flawless.

Soon, Godfrey, a satisfied smile spreading across his face, said,

“Brother, you’ve worked hard. Thanks to you, England will become stronger.”

This meant the plan was complete and without flaw.

The two had finished their arduous task. Even amidst fatigue and hardship, their faces shone with accomplishment.

Because they had finally achieved what they set out to do.

For a long time, John had been trying to forge a new national identity called Angevin.

From the start, John, being a reincarnator [someone reborn into a new life], aimed to prevent the Hundred Years’ War, a conflict rooted in the separation between France and England.

The Hundred Years’ War stemmed from France seizing territories in western France from England, and the French people developing a distinct national identity.

Therefore, John initiated the ‘High Church’ movement and established Sunday schools. He appointed lower nobles educated in these schools, regardless of their ‘origin,’ making the first attempt to integrate various peoples into a unified Angevin identity.

Of course, no one believed this would be easy. Even though the concept of a modern nation was absent in this era, and the sense of belonging to a country was weak in the Middle Ages, uniting multiple peoples under a single banner was a monumental task.

However, the plan was on the verge of becoming a reality, and the necessary political groundwork was nearly complete.

Then, John finally presented his ideas to the people’s representatives through Parliament.

“The Angevin people are a great synthesis, a unified whole. Neither linguistic differences nor cultural variations can negate this fact. There is no room even for those who claim exclusive devotion to Christ. 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, you are the Angevins.”

This was just the beginning.

* * *

“…”

In the ensuing silence and solemn atmosphere, I spoke again.

“Now, I will treat everyone without discrimination. Of course, ‘status’ will still exist, but I will reduce discrimination based on the territory of your birth.”

People’s faces shifted at my statement.

I had already hinted at this in various ways through Sunday schools, the promotion of a common Angevin language, and the standardization of arithmetic, but they probably never imagined I would speak so directly about national integration.

“Your Highness, I have a question regarding your excellent words.”

“Speak, Earl of Scotland.”

Illiam, the ever-pitiful Earl of Scotland, addressed me.

“Then, can I also exercise power as an Angevin noble?”

Illiam, who had been subjugated by our father and couldn’t even dream of restoring his kingdom, was asking a crucial question.

Whether the path to advancement would be open to talented individuals from annexed countries as well.

I had alluded to this before, but this time I spoke more explicitly.

“Whether you hail from England, Scotland, Ireland, or western France, if you are part of our England, you will be granted the same qualifications. The great Richard I and I, the Duke of Normandy, guarantee it.”

The Earl of Scotland’s belief still seemed incomplete, but it was a start.

At least, the Angevin ideology is not just a concept that ends with the speech I made earlier.

The Angevin ideology I envision is not just theory but reality.

The reason I created Sunday schools is to lay the foundation for the curriculum I want to implement.

Of course, this is not an era of equality, and distinctions between statuses must remain, but educating children according to the preferences of the diocese that cooperates with me is no mere coincidence.

But people need visible proof, like the Apostle Thomas [who doubted Jesus’ resurrection until he saw the wounds]. To impress those who doubt my cause, I must reflect my intentions in reality.

I concluded the conversation with the Earl of Scotland, but many people still harbor doubts.

Because policies are not achieved with mere ‘words.’

* * *

―Aquitaine, Lord’s Castle―

A reply arrived from Richard I.

[Make all people Angevins, and I will also support your work.]

This meant his position remained unchanged.

‘Even if I want to work, it’s hard without the king’s support.’

I am spending more time in Aquitaine because I still have a lot of work to do and cannot go to Rouen, but I communicate with Richard I frequently.

By letter, and sometimes by sending messengers.

Communication is truly important.

If communication between the monarch and his subjects is poor, unnecessary misunderstandings arise, creating opportunities for treacherous subjects to spread slander.

To prevent that, I often talk with Richard I and make sure to clarify even sensitive issues like the Angevin ideology.

I just need to demonstrate that all people have the same opportunities for taxation and advancement.

The administrative power secured by using the first graduates of the Sunday schools, who had experienced the curriculum and interacted with the ‘universities’ or ‘families’ I designated, as administrative officials.

I used this administrative power to initiate tolerance policies in the three territories under my control: Mortain, Ireland, and Aquitaine.

Of course, these were just baby steps, like ‘non-discrimination’ and providing basic necessities in proportion to labor.

But even so, many people recognized my intentions and welcomed my policies.

[Long live England!]

It’s because my policy of rescuing people by providing the basics for a livable environment without demanding excessive compensation wasn’t viewed negatively.

At that very moment, new news arrived from the east.

“Your Highness, the Holy Roman Empire’s war is about to end.”

Godfrey, the military commander of Aquitaine, entered and delivered the news.

Now, the folk game in the neighborhood next door is about to end.

‘Holy Roman Empire, you fought really well.’

Thanks to you, I made a lot of money from the war boom.

I felt a little sorry for my nephew Otto, but honestly, since it was the insidious Germans who instigated my brother-in-law’s death, I had no qualms about the people of the Holy Roman Empire.

Frankly, weren’t the Germans of the Holy Roman Empire also the ones who took advantage of our civil war?

* * *

―January 1202, Holy Roman Empire―

The new year has arrived.

The New Year’s sun, gifted by Jesus Christ, is rising beautifully.

But no one here was satisfied.

―Squawk.

A crow caws ominously, and the stench of decaying corpses permeates the air.

Who could fully enjoy the New Year?

“Where… where did it all go wrong?”

War is said to be the romance of nobles and the reason for knights’ existence. Considering the various benefits and honors that war brings, this isn’t wrong.

But this isn’t just any war. It’s a civil war that’s draining the nation’s strength.

Initially, many thought this civil war was merely a power struggle within the Holy Roman Empire.

However, that was just a delusion of naive fools.

The people of the Holy Roman Empire tried to end this civil war with a clean power transition, but the surrounding countries didn’t think so.

‘Good, fight more. We’ll give you support.’

As time passed, more knights met their fate, the land was devastated, and all sorts of debts piled up.

At this point, the Germans realized that the civil war they wanted wasn’t like this.

They never anticipated this situation where national power and prestige were melting away like beef.

‘God, why have you given us such hardship?’

‘We are the Holy Roman Empire, who have dedicated everything to the Lord.’

‘Why do you abandon us?’

While the powerless people were properly feeling fear and sorrow.

The responsible commanders felt the same as the people, but also kept something else in mind.

‘We must end this war.’

They had to end this civil war with their victory as soon as possible.

That’s why the scale of the battles grew, and decisive battles took place.

—Whoosh.

With the arrows exhausted and the fog cleared on the battlefield.

“All troops, charge!”

“Yes!”

The long battle is coming to an end.

Paradoxically, the time of the German King, who was barely holding on with the help of the Eastern Roman Empire [Byzantine Empire], was also running out.

There were those who hadn’t forgotten the heroic deeds of the deceased Duke Henry the Lion, and Otto, his son, possessed a spirit no less than his father’s abilities.

The synergy of these factors began to shine.

Contrary to the expectation that they would target the weakest and most insignificant right-wing army.

Otto targeted the central army.

This wasn’t baseless confidence. It was because the morale of the German King Heinrich’s main force had collapsed.

“I am also the last knight.”

Otto, equipped with full plate armor and barding [protective horse armor] personally gifted by his uncle John, began to run.

—Thud, thud, thud.

Knights gathered, following Otto.

—Clang.

The impact occurred.

“The formation is starting to collapse!”

“Hold the line as much as possible!”

“Hold on, new reinforcements are coming!”

“Your Highness, the central army is collapsing now.”

“It’s over. The end is near.”

The German King Heinrich struggled as much as possible and killed as many enemies as possible.

However, the tide had turned, and the loser was in a position where he could only become a noble prisoner.

The fierce battle was over. By the hand of Otto, who had not only become the Elector of Saxony [one of the princes entitled to elect the Holy Roman Emperor] and obtained the Electorate of Bavaria but was now close to becoming the Emperor.

Otto, who had become the victor, spoke to the loser with the *yoyu* [余裕, Japanese for composure] of a victor.

“Heinrich, it’s a pity that you, who have the same name and title as my father, have suffered such hardship.”

The German King didn’t kill his father. Otto knew that better than anyone.

However, they had no choice but to fight over the single imperial throne, and that’s why the German King and he had fought until this final battle.

But the time of conflict has passed. Now everything is over.

“…….”

The German King, who had been staring blankly at Otto for a moment.

“See, I didn’t kill him!”

He unknowingly expressed his resentment.

The mental anguish he had suffered from being wronged for so long and the wounds he had sustained on the battlefield tormented him. As a leader, he had endured as much as possible, but now he had reached his limit.

He vomited blood.

Then, people who were worried about the German King approached.

“Your Highness!”

“Are you alright?”

“Why didn’t you show any signs until you got to this point?”

Even though he might have been lacking compared to Otto, the German King was also a leader with charisma. Otherwise, would there have been vassals who had devoted their loyalty to the German King until this moment and were concerned about his health?

“Stop.”

The German King, who had calmed his subordinates, spoke to Otto with a complex heart.

“Elector of Saxony, Otto.”

“Did you call me?”

As Otto looked at him, the German King remembered his father’s resentful will.

‘After my reign, the flood…….’

That hateful will succeeded, and he fell.

And now, his broken body seems unlikely to recover.

He was already a noble prisoner, completely defeated. What would he do now?

That was to end this civil war.

“Otto, you have won. I, as the German King, failed to stop the flood, and the Emperor who sufficiently stopped the flood is yours. So, accept my vassals, who are innocent, into your embrace, and execute all those involved in your father’s death.”

“…Thank you.”

The word ‘thank you’ that Otto uttered included not only defeat but also the acknowledgment of legitimacy.

Then, the German King showed Otto the same courtesy that a vassal would show to an Emperor and said.

“Otto IV, congratulations on defeating me and becoming the Emperor. Now, I want to rest… I have a lot to argue with my father…….”

—Thud.

Before he could finish his words, a man died.

“Your Highness!”

The sun is setting.