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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2015 12:29:18 GMT
"It is important that we do this, Your Majesty, at least for the time being. You are proving to the nobles that you are to be trusted with the powers they are granting you. Besides, there is very much to gain from this. Those traitors languishing in the dungeons hold valuable lands, when the Sejm attaints them, these lands will pass to the Crown, to be used as you wish", the Chancellor stated, over a breakfast of warm pancakes and damson jam.
The King's whiskers had dark purple patches, from where the thick, tart, conserve had stuck, "Very well, but they will get annoyed eventually! Calling the Sejm this often in peace time is unprecedented!"
"Perfect. If the nobles grow bored of you constantly calling them, then they will start abdicating more powers to you. That is precisely what this is about." Pan Habasinski stood and bowed to the King, "I will make the preparations for the army to move out, and send riders to spread the news. When we reach Torun, we will have some very good news to spread! Oh, and I will take the liberty to invite our friend, the Hetman of Zaprozia, he will not be allowed a veto, but I think he will appreciate having his voice heard in the governance of the Commonwealth."
"Very good Janusz, you'd better get on with it. I feel like going for a ride today, and you had better be ready by the time I'm in the saddle!"
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2015 15:45:12 GMT
The Army begins its march north, to the gathering Sejm at Torun. The King, the Chancellor, and a large group of the guards of each race off ahead of the column.
"I haven't see you enjoy yourself this much in years Janusz! What has happened to my most pensive servant?" calls the King, checking his mount to a trot as he crested a small hill. The sun was already melting the snows here, it was an unusually warm January.
"I had news from Warszawa, Your Majesty, my wife has given birth, on the 15th! To a boy no less, a healthy lad!" replied Pan Habasinski, beaming, "We will name him Bogdan Jan, in thanks to the almighty, and in your honour."
"The honour is mine, Janusz! This news indeed. I did not even know she was up the duff."
"Well, we didn't want a false alarm... waiting for eggs to hatch and all that."
"Splendid, splendid. This should be a good year!"
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2015 14:01:39 GMT
The King finally emerges to begin the Sejm. His fever having broken a few days previously. After the ceremonial opening he listens to grievances for a few hours. Mostly just complaints by petty lords that their lands were encroached upon by other petty lords. The King tells them to take their cases to the courts and moves on. The rest of the day remains of arguments on trade and redress, and little and less is actually done. This suited the King and Chancellor, the inability of these people to agree cemented their long term arguments and ambitions.
On the second day, the King makes a speech outlining in depth the successes at Kamieniec. He encourages the resumption of traditional trade routes to the Black Sea, and calls upon the Sejm to end their export bans on timber to the Ottoman Empire. This goes to the vote, but the King and the Chancellor exert little pressure beyond highlighting the possible revenues. They were interested to see if anyone would oppose the motion, and for what reasons. Besides, if the majority were thwarted by a small group and a veto? All the better for the King.
The King dines with various nobles throughout the week, and his chancellor too. They had their ears firmly to the floor, trying to gain an idea of the vein of though running through the nobles. The Chancellors guards maintained their usual vigilance, ears to the tent flaps, silently standing and listening.
On the Sunday, after mass, the King lunches with the Zaprozian Hetman, and the Duke of Courland. "You see the chaos that are the nobles of this country? Were it not for the love of the army, the love of the people, and my trusted chancellor, they would be worse yet! I am thankful that I have dependable allies such as you stirling gentlemen."
He spends the day listening to the hopes, dreams, and grievances of the Hetman and Duke...
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Post by The Viceroy (AdminM) on Feb 13, 2015 15:17:10 GMT
The Duke of Courland is particularly concerned about Swedish expansion and trade disputes in the Baltic. He also wishes to see a major development on his position in Europe, believing that colonial enterprises will see his Duchy in a position of power in the next century.
The Hetman of the Zaphrozian Cossacks explains that there is a significantly strong pro-Russian faction in his territory, that will never be appeased. Many of this faction are preparing for conflict with the Ottoman Turks in response to the crisis in Caucasia.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2015 15:31:56 GMT
The King was very nervous about the news in Zaprozia, but he announced his trust of the leadership of the Hetman.
To the Duke he asked of the successes of the colony in Tobago, and of the Duchy's naval strength, and how well they are managing their navy. He also talks about the key to Courlander success being in a closer relationship with the Commonwealth, so that they can leverage their respective successes.
He stated that the success of the Courlander colony is close to the King's heart, and that he would like to do what can be done to support the colony.
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Post by The Viceroy (AdminM) on Feb 14, 2015 19:18:09 GMT
'Tobago,' the Duke sighed, 'is failing.' New Courland, as the Duke preferred to call it, had fallen to buccaneers the year prior and had not yet been reclaimed. A few Courlanders from Dutch, French and English colonies had tried to save it but it has fallen into a state of anarchy. Governor Karl De Napp had returned to Europe during this time, and was urging the government to sell their territorial claim to the Island.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2015 23:22:49 GMT
"This is sad news indeed." The King is unwilling to accept the failure of the colony, but sometimes the facts are the facts. He is interested to hear what the Duke is planning regarding colonies, if he admitted that it had colonial ambitions.
The Sejm continues with the King proposing a bill to provide a legal framework for reconstruction. "With many serfs tied to land without any lord, following the damages of the deluge, we propose that following inspection, that these men be declared free, and that their feudal holdings be granted them in fee simple." The law would apply only in the Crown of Poland, as it is only there that the issue of lordless serfs exists. The administrators would search genealogical and local land registers to ascertain where "lordlessness" exists. The law is put forwards as a cheap means of increasing agricultural production, and bringing in new revenues, without the need for tax rises. It also will remove a possible source of friction, with serfs without a lord to keep them in check.
After this, the final matter is put to the Sejm... The Attainting of the "Czartoryski Ring", a group of nobles who had been found guilty of treason following the previous Sejm. Their guilt is beyond doubt, and an example is to be made, that no nobles will be allowed to undermine the Commonwealth with support for external powers. The land seizures from the attainders will be split: 1/3 to support minor loyal lords, 1/3 sold, and 1/3 integrated into the crown estates. All shall be dealt in "fee simple", not as fiefs or dependencies.
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Post by The Viceroy (AdminM) on Feb 16, 2015 17:59:39 GMT
The people of Courland invested massively in the Tobago project, and its failure seems to have disheartened investment in future endeavours. However, the Duke is willing, with Polish finances, to create a joint expedition to retake Tobago, and perhaps start to profit from the decline of Spanish control in Trinidad.
The Land Tenancy Act and the Attaining Act of 1686/7 both pass comfortably.
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