I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]: Chapter 102

The Crimson Eagle (2)

The Crimson Eagle (2)

* * *

“New supply wagons have arrived. We won’t have to worry about food for a while,” Guido said.

A day after the battle, we waited for the enemy, maintaining our formation.

However, Emperor Friedrich showed no particular movement.

“It seems the Emperor is still contemplating,” I said.

“He’s concerned about the forest. He’s waiting for us to move first.”

That’s why I chose this terrain in the first place.

The Emperor knew that I had defeated Count Hartmann with an ambush, so he would suspect an ambush this time as well.

But I didn’t hide any troops in the forest. Only a small number of scouts were there.

‘I need all the soldiers to face the Imperial Army.’

Fighting here, the Emperor had no choice but to be mindful of the forest. He would have to set aside reserves to prepare for a surprise attack.

Guido spoke up.

“Since the last battle, complaints have been slowly leaking out among the Italian knights. It’s not serious, but just…”

“Let me guess. Is it because I told them to dismount and fight?” I asked.

In the last battle, I ordered the cavalry to dismount and support the infantry.

The English army also fought that way during the battle of Crécy [a famous English victory in the Hundred Years’ War]. There was no rule that knights had to fight on horseback.

In a defensive formation, they fill in the gaps in the manpower, and when the chase begins, they mount their horses. This method was the most efficient for now.

“The problem is that most of the knights are nobles. Gaining merit on the battlefield is a very important issue for them.”

“They have to achieve greater merit than the commoners to be able to brag about it later. I understand what you mean,” I scoffed.

They really are like children.

“You’re seriously mistaken just because you won once. Do you think you can win just by charging?”

Victory can sometimes be a poison. If the victor becomes arrogant and careless, an enemy full of revenge will turn the battlefield upside down. There are plenty of such cases in the history of war.

“Go and tell them: I will not tolerate any individual actions. It doesn’t matter if they are nobles or officials. I will personally punish those who disobey orders,” I said.

“My goal is to defeat the Emperor, not to boost the pride of the nobles.”

“I knew you would say that, Prince. I’ve already told them that. In fact, there weren’t that many who resisted,” Guido shrugged.

“Haven’t you already won against the Empire twice, Prince?”

“And I will win again.”

I looked towards Rome. The Imperial Army’s camp could be seen even with a telescope – a sea of countless tents.

It wouldn’t be easy to face them. To win, I had to pour everything I had into it.

But we weren’t the only ones at a disadvantage. The Lombard League cities were fighting each other, so Rome would be even worse. How fierce would the war of nerves be between the Holy Roman Empire and the city of Rome?

‘The division of Italy’ applied not only to us but also to the Emperor’s army.

“By the way, pilgrims have been gathering since this morning. There have been several disturbances as they keep trying to enter the camp.”

“Pilgrims?”

“Pilgrims who have come to see the True Cross [believed to be the cross upon which Jesus was crucified]. Some are from Rome, and others are from other cities,” Guido shrugged.

“They’re gathering so recklessly that it’s not easy to stop them. Some try to sneak in at night, and others have been caught trying to bribe the soldiers to get in.”

“It’s a similar situation to when we were in Verona.”

I didn’t think they would come to such a battlefield, no matter how devout they were.

How deep is their faith that they would risk their lives to come here?

“Father Pierre even eats and sleeps under the True Cross. He gathers the pilgrims and holds prayer services.”

“…”

I turned my head and looked at the cross. The True Cross. I had an interesting idea.

“How about just opening the camp?”

“Yes? Open the camp? What do you mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. Allow the pilgrims to see and touch the True Cross. Wouldn’t it be better to open it up rather than blocking them one by one?”

“Then the Emperor will hide spies among them.”

“Maybe so. But the opposite is also possible.”

If the Empire sent spies hidden in the pilgrim crowd, we could also send them. The Emperor would know that too.

“If we openly accept the pilgrims and they go back and forth between the two camps, how would the Emperor react?”

“He would be horrified. He would try to stop it at all costs.”

“There’s no nightmare like uncontrolled citizens going back and forth between camps.”

I nodded.

What would it have been like in the 21st century? What if civilians flocked in to take videos and photos while a battle was raging?

This is a subtly plausible scenario, so it’s scary.

Guido stroked his chin.

“You opened the camp for the pilgrims, Prince, but the Emperor will become a tyrant who blocks it. Is that the situation you want?”

“If we do well, we can divide the two Romes. The Roman Senate has joined hands with the Emperor, but…” I said.

“The Emperor has massacred Romans before. The citizens haven’t forgotten that yet.”

When I think about it, it’s a strange situation. Emperor Friedrich came to Italy to bring the Lombard League to its knees, but due to food shortages, he lifted the siege of Vicenza and moved south. He came all the way to Rome. Now he’s barely getting supplies by joining hands with the Roman Senate.

If this isn’t a comedy, what is it?

The city of Rome is dynamite, and Emperor Friedrich was a blazing flame. If the two meet, they will eventually explode.

‘It seems the Emperor is waiting for internal strife to break out on our side first.’

But my control was firm. Unless we lose, the Italian Communes [self-governing city-states] will listen to my orders. There are still no signs of any Communes breaking away. It’s a much better situation compared to the game or the original history.

We could hold out as long as we wanted. But what about the Emperor?

“Feed the soldiers well, and don’t let your guard down,” I said, turning my head.

Where we are is the eye of the storm. I had a feeling that the wind would blow soon.

* * *

Three days after the preliminary battle, scouts still went back and forth between the two camps, watching each other’s movements. The squires fed the horses hay, and the archers checked their bows.

But hundreds and thousands of people covered the two camps.

“Oh, may the Lord bless us as He watches over us…!”

Their attire was all similar: a wide-brimmed hat, a staff, and a water bottle, all indicating pilgrims. They were pilgrims who came to Rome from all over Europe. They flocked to the Lombard League camp to see the True Cross.

Father Pierre came forward and welcomed them.

“Through heaven and earth and sea, through relics and churches and the True Cross, through angels and humans, I offer respect and reverence to the Lord, the Creator!”

Hymns echoed from everywhere. Before long, Imperial soldiers stood in their way.

“This is a battlefield where a battle is raging! Where are unarmed citizens going?!”

“Prince Baldwin said he would accept as many pilgrims as possible! What authority do you have to stop us?!”

“Only those who have received permission from His Majesty the Emperor are allowed to enter! You cannot pass this place!”

Passes were issued to some senators, but most pilgrims were banned from passing. The Roman Senate also complained as the number of pilgrims entering the city was cut off.

“Pilgrims are Rome’s biggest source of income. What are we supposed to do if you block them all?!”

“We will defeat the rebels soon anyway. The True Cross will be ours, so wait!”

“You haven’t kept the promises you made to the Senate yet. Who knows if you’ll change your mind then?”

“When is the Emperor going to fight anyway?”

As time went by, dissatisfaction and tension only increased, and finally, things broke out.

“Who do you think is giving you food?! You can’t even thank us, but you’re blocking us like this!”

“Don’t you know who this person is?! The most noble of the senatorial families…”

“If it weren’t for our city of Rome, you German hicks would have starved to death a long time ago!”

“Where did these impudent Italians get the idea to talk like that…!”

“What are you doing! They are the ones who insulted His Majesty the Emperor! Kill them all!”

Some excited knights cut down the low-ranking Roman officials. Soon after, chaos unfolded.

“The Roman Senate withdraws its support for Emperor Federico (Friedrich)! Leave Rome right now!”

“Drive out the German King Federico!”

The excited Roman protesters gathered north, passing through Sant’Angelo and Trastevere. The knights and soldiers of the Holy Roman Empire drove them away with swords.

“Drive out the rioters who are resisting His Majesty the Emperor!”

In the end, the protesters were defeated, but the Imperial Army could not enter the city of Rome either. The Romans blocked the Tiber bridges and closed the gates tightly to express their will.

Their cries echoed across the plains.

“German barbarians, get out to Germany!”

* * *

“If His Majesty the Emperor comes forward and explains now, the Senate will accept it,” Archbishop Siegfried of Mainz said.

“We need Rome’s help to continue receiving food supplies. It would be better to pay compensation…”

“We don’t need their help anymore. It was bound to happen someday,” Emperor Friedrich scoffed.

Only deathly silence flowed in the command tent.

“What was the extent of our damage?”

“About a hundred. Most of the casualties occurred before the heavy cavalry was deployed,” a lord said.

“The number of dead Roman rioters is about a thousand, and about five hundred have been taken prisoner.”

“Release the captured ones after receiving a suitable ransom. Anyway, once we win, they will have no choice but to open the gates.”

“Then we must fight right now. We cannot last long without food supplies.”

“How about occupying Rome and taking the remaining food?”

The lords poured out their words. The Emperor shook his head.

“We cannot afford to besiege Rome with the rebels in front of us. We will starve to death before we can even get food,” the Emperor said. He slowly rose.

“It’s a good thing. The knights and soldiers must have realized that there is nowhere to run anymore,” he added, looking at the lords and knights.

“Now all that remains for us is victory. Is everyone ready to break through them?”

“The knights are all ready. If Your Majesty gives the order, we will crush those rebels right now.”

“Good, once we defeat them, Rome and the Pope will fall into our hands. This tiresome campaign is now over,” the Emperor said, waving his hand. He frowned, and wrinkles formed on his forehead.

“Feed the soldiers and horses well. It doesn’t matter if you use all the remaining food. Make sure everyone eats their fill.”

The lords exchanged glances. Feed the soldiers well. That meant only one thing: battle.

“We’ve dragged on long enough. We’re ready too.”

The Emperor picked up the helmet on the table. He looked at the lords.

“Now the sword will decide everything.”

* * *

The city of Rome, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Pope have always had a complex relationship. The Roman Commune (Senate) proposed to Conrad III, Emperor Friedrich’s predecessor, ‘to come to Rome and create a new kind of capital for the Roman Empire.’ Also, Friedrich was furious when he learned that the Emperor had been crowned by the Pope instead of them, and attacked the Imperial Army and the Pope. Emperor Friedrich responded by massacring them.

The subtle power struggles they waged were more interesting than I thought. However, I have minimized the explanation in the work because it can make the work tedious. If you are interested in the history, I recommend reference books.

Source – Chronicle of the Popes (John Julius Norwich)

I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]

I Became The King Of Crusaders [EN]

십자군의 왕이 되었다
Status: Completed Author: Native Language: Korean
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[English Translation] In the heart of the Holy Land, where faith and steel collide, a kingdom teeters on the brink of annihilation. Jerusalem, 1181: a city besieged by the clash of Crusader fervor and Islamic might. Amidst this maelstrom of war and intrigue, a royal heir finds himself thrust into a desperate struggle for survival. Witness the epic saga of a kingdom's last stand, and the rise of a king forged in the fires of the Crusades. Will he become the savior his people desperately need, or will he be consumed by the very conflict that threatens to engulf them all?

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