The Youngest Prince Of The English Royalty House [EN]: Chapter 87

콩가루집 막내왕자 087화

87. Spain

Looking at a map of 12th-century Europe, one notices a significant difference compared to 21st-century Europe.

The most striking difference is the presence of numerous countries that no longer exist in modern times.

While knights and the Catholic Church are iconic symbols of the Middle Ages, the fragmented and often chaotic nature of its countries truly defines the era.

A single country divided into several kingdoms.

And within those kingdoms, power further divided into countless territories.

Interests as numerous and varied as the stars in the sky.

This environment fostered a history of intense conflict, which would later shape imperialist Europe.

However, this historical trajectory has been altered somewhat by the influence of Safe Zone [presumably a reference to the protagonist’s actions or a game mechanic].

The Iberian Peninsula was unified under the leadership of the Kingdom of Castile, resulting in the creation of Spain several hundred years ahead of schedule.

No one anticipated this dramatic shift.

Consequently, other monarchs and nobles across Europe were experiencing cognitive dissonance, exclaiming in astonishment, “Oh… how… those Castilians!”

However, the King of Castile, now King of Spain, displayed a nonchalant attitude, changing his title from Alfonso to Felipe to demonstrate his power and indifference, a move that seemed to say, “So what can you do about it?”

“Long live King Felipe I!”

King Alfonso had become Felipe I. The various countries of the Iberian Peninsula were now united under the flag of Spain.

Originally, this would have been impossible.

Unlike the 19th century, when seemingly every nation aspired to be an empire, the title of ‘Empire’ traditionally required legitimacy granted by Rome.

The newly unified state of Spain couldn’t simply declare itself an empire.

But many lords and former kings, now dukes within the new Spanish kingdom, didn’t seem to care. The nobles who ruled Iberia before unification thought that Iberia was being alienated from the forefront of European affairs.

They had enjoyed some prominence during the Third Crusade, but gradually, the kingdoms of the Iberian region, observing the rise of France and England, began to realize something.

They knew that England was gradually taking the lead in European hegemony.

While France and the Holy Roman Empire could potentially keep England in check, the situation was far from simple.

The people of Iberia, who had been leisurely participating in the Crusade, shouting “In the name of God,” were now shocked.

During the Third Crusade, Henry II’s sons had played significant roles in various theaters and reaped considerable benefits, strengthening England’s position once again.

Originally, the Holy Roman Empire was a vast and influential entity that led Western Europe, and that perception still lingered.

But the Empire’s authority was slowly eroding, especially with the current emperor’s less-than-stellar qualities. Chaos was expected to erupt upon Emperor Friedrich’s death.

Moreover, Prince John, often underestimated, had colluded with Dandolo, a powerful figure in Venice, to establish a large market.

Of course, there were other factors at play, but Castile secretly orchestrated the unification with a bold strategy, successfully achieving a surprise integration. Alfonso, following the example of his father-in-law, Henry II, used both force and money to absorb Iberia.

Naturally, the Angevin family and the Polish faction played a crucial role in diverting attention.

In any case, the newly crowned monarch of Spain confided in his wife in their bedroom.

“The conflict between the Kingdom of France and the Kingdom of England presents a great opportunity for us.”

“That’s right. We can finally make our voices heard.”

“But Queen, what are you doing right now?”

“Ah… I’m writing a letter to John.”

“John?”

Felipe I watched his wife meticulously pen a letter to his youngest brother.

On the surface, it seemed like a warm, familial gesture.

However, Felipe I, knowing his wife well, immediately suspected something else.

He guessed that Eleanor’s lingering resentment towards John over the recent fleet ‘incident’ was finding its expression through her writing.

And as her husband suspected, Eleanor was thinking as she wrote the letter.

‘Our John… remember… I’m your sister!’

* * *

―1189, Ireland―

As expected, medieval Europe never had a calm day.

Unexpected situations arose constantly, like an unending series of battles.

It felt as if I, in my previous life, had been a strong Korean who was forcibly enlisted despite being of mixed heritage.

The world was never rational. And I, a rational lord, would be tormented even by the wind rustling through the leaves.

‘Ha… lord life.’

Just as I was settling into managing internal affairs, I was suddenly thrust into external affairs.

Fortunately, it wasn’t a war, but in some ways, it was even more complicated.

My brother-in-law had changed his title from Alfonso to Felipe.

It would have been fine if he had only changed his title, but that wasn’t the case. All the countries of Iberia had bowed to my brother-in-law and asked to become his vassals.

In short, Iberia had unified.

While the reconstruction of the Kingdom of Poland elicited a casual “Oh, really?” the establishment of a unified kingdom in Iberia was a genuine surprise.

A new and unexpected neighbor had emerged. And that wasn’t necessarily a pleasant thing.

The birth of the Kingdom of Poland didn’t directly align with our interests; rather, it created a reliable shield to protect Europe from the environmental warrior Mongolians [a humorous exaggeration].

I was more inclined to shout, “Cheer up, Kazimierz!” Eastern Europe offered no real opportunities for England to intervene.

But the birth of Spain forced me to confront the situation with surprise.

While I had a somewhat strained relationship with my brother-in-law, the real problem was that Spain was a neighbor that had appeared to our west.

If France and England were to engage in a serious conflict, Spain’s ‘casting vote’ could significantly alter the balance of power.

Unsurprisingly, the topic of this Three-Party Conference was Spain.

What truly shocked us was not just that Castile had been reborn as Spain, the unified kingdom of Iberia, but that the kingdoms of Iberia had willingly submitted to Castile. It felt unnatural.

It felt like something out of Dumas’ novel *The Three Musketeers*: “One for all, all for one!” It was as if Iberia had to unite for Castile… Should I say it feels like that? That meant they already had ‘negotiations’ behind the scenes. Without other countries knowing.

More surprised than by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, I barely managed to maintain a neutral expression and addressed the delegates.

“How is this possible?”

I turned to Godfrey, the most intelligent of our advisors, because I still couldn’t comprehend the situation.

Godfrey replied, “I don’t know either. No matter how much Iberia is a geography in the western corner, so urgently.”

“Leon, Aragon, Navarre, Portugal. They were all independent monarchs… why?”

Isn’t it the position of the leaders that they don’t want to be the tail of a dragon even if they become the head of a chicken?

‘Are you throwing away your crown?’

I wanted to ask the kings of the Iberian Peninsula who had relinquished their crowns, but they must have had their own reasons for bowing to my brother-in-law, the King of Castile.

“Ha… I understand.”

In the end, Godfrey also admitted that he hadn’t anticipated the change in Spain. Is that so?

“Did the delegates of the First Estate [the clergy] know about this?”

“We didn’t know either.”

“…….”

Even though they resided in the ‘island’ territories of our proud Irish nobles, it didn’t mean that there was no exchange with the nobles of the Iberian Peninsula.

First, I addressed Bishop Lothair, the representative of the clergy.

“What is the reaction of the church there?”

The church in the Middle Ages was both a religious institution and a political entity.

I asked if there were any noticeable aftereffects within the church from the sudden unification of the country.

“It’s peaceful, very… as if the high priests have become one and are hiding the truth.”

“…!”

We were speechless at Bishop Lothair’s report that the church situation in that region was also silently peaceful.

Because that statement carried a very ominous implication.

Anyone with a clear mind would understand that the Iberian integration process had been carried out ‘underwater’ [secretly].

What was truly frightening was that none of the clergy within Iberia had opposed it, and the news hadn’t even reached the Vatican.

“What about the delegates of the Third Estate [commoners]?”

“We too…….”

“I have never heard of it.”

This was a scary thing.

* * *

In conclusion, I sent a letter to the Duke of Burgundy in the name of the peace-loving Irish Grand Duke.

The Burgundy territory was closely tied to England due to various political and geographical factors. Of course, recently… ‘Ah, those Angevins again!’ I was scared like that.

But in the end, it is destined to check France while doing Ssesse [a playful term for political maneuvering] with England.

So I said in a letter to the Duke of Burgundy. As it is the Middle Ages, I mixed it with all sorts of biblical phrases and Roman poems.

[No matter how much the Spanish guys coax you, you’re not going to make us feel bad while doing tightrope walking, are you?] is the content.

Of course, the parties of the tightrope walking are the evil France and the righteous England. But Spain seems to be taking sides with the evil France!

As I was lamenting the future like that, I received a letter from my sister.

What sister? It was my second sister, Eleanor, who had the same mother and father.

I didn’t have a good feeling because some of the members of our family, except for me and my brother Richard, had a few problems with their personality, but since she was my sister with the same father and mother, I immediately tore open the seal of the letter.

The letter from my sister, who sent a medieval letter, began with a friendly phrase.

[To the merciful Grand Duke of Ireland]

‘Have I been merciful for a day or two?’

Honestly, this was close to the truth, so I didn’t feel very good. Saying the obvious is not giving good words.

Besides, the following contents were all bad.

After reading all the last phrases, I.

“Ha…….”

Along with a sigh, I briefly interpreted the contents of the letter.

[It seems like your brothers are starting to make plans for a civil war, what should we do with our Spain? John?] is the meaning.

As expected, the Angevin family.

Even a sister with the same father and mother can say such scary words to her poor Grand Duke brother.

Besides, what’s even scarier is in the middle.

[Sister Matilda doesn’t know people’s hearts, she won’t be able to repay you for what you’ve taken care of so far?]

The story of my sister Matilda, who returned to Saxony with my brother-in-law, who was reinstated as the Elector of Saxony, came out.

Our loving little Eleanor was subtly putting me down while criticizing Matilda, my older sister who has the same mother and father as me.

If the letter itself was an operation aimed at making me laugh in vain, I think it was successful.

I don’t discuss state affairs with Mary separately, but there are many times when I need a wise wife.

Especially when I don’t know a woman’s intentions.

I showed my wife the letter from Eleanor, the political partner of my brother-in-law Felipe I and my second sister Eleanor, who has the same father and mother as me.

“… So you’re worried? It’s nothing?”

“Mary. What I’m worried about is that Spain can’t suddenly pop out. Something must be happening behind the scenes…….”

“Maybe, little Eleanor…….”

“What did you say?”

“John, have you forgotten? What kind of existence is my mother-in-law Eleanor, and how great are your sisters?”

“If so… my sister is making this whole plan?”

“No, more accurately, it’s closer to the queens of each country abandoning their titles and choosing profits.”

Of course, in the Middle Ages, it is the king who rules the kingdom, but the queen also has many parts that can do ‘politics’ in various ways.

Of course, it is different from the pillow talk of the East and various things, and it is different from the future salon politics, but there was something I knew well.

In this era, most of the king’s wives are princesses of kingdoms who have made political marriages. In other words. The monarch cannot treat his wife, who was born with a high status as a princess, carelessly.

Of course, what is different from future politics is not that the husband is gaslighted by his wife. A political union that maximizes the interests of the monarch and his wife and joins forces.

Unfortunately, our father Henry II ignored the politics of mutual respect and tried to eat Aquitaine raw, excluding his mother’s achievements, but he was hit by a bamboo spear called ‘The Great Rebellion’.

The important thing is that the power of the medieval queen is stronger than you think.

“But John, you don’t have to worry.”

“Don’t worry.”

When I felt various complicated feelings and asked.

My beloved wife Mary smiled and said to me.

“I’m by your side.”

That afternoon, I could hear about the death of Maria, the former princess of the Eastern Roman Empire. Well, I didn’t feel anything. Because it’s a story from a faraway country.