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Post by Pyotr Alekseevich on Feb 13, 2015 21:38:35 GMT
A large diplomatic party arrives from the Russian Empire. They include amongst their numbers Generals, Civil Servants and members of the Naryshkin family. There are even rumours that Tsar Pyotr may be present!
The party takes residence in a large Viennese house, bringing with them servants and guards to run the property, from the house they send messengers to the Imperial Palace to request a series of meetings between diplomats to discuss a defensive alliance, and then a meeting between the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold the 1st and Tsar Pyotr Alekseevich the 1st. Many expect the Tsar to propose Russia's admission to the Holy League.
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Post by Leopold I von Habsburg on Feb 13, 2015 22:02:40 GMT
The massagers are received with great enthusiasm at Leopold's Court in Vienna. Almost at once a dispatch is sent back to the Viennese house from which the Russian massagers came. It is stated, in Russian of course, that his Imperial majesty, Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I, wishes to receive the Russian diplomatic party at Katterburg Herrenhaus, die Schönbrunn, in Vienna where a great feast can be held in their honour. The large grounds are cleared and filled with an Austrian guard of honour. The Tsar's flag hangs proudly around the grounds of Katterburg Herrenhaus next to the Austrian flag. The Streets of Vienna are filled with cheering crowds and Leopold orders the city garrison to line the route in the city the Russian party is set to take.
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Post by Pyotr Alekseevich on Feb 14, 2015 19:46:34 GMT
Pyotr leads the Russian party, just behind him is General Gordon and to his right is the Russian Ambassador to Vienna. The all ride on horseback, with Pyotr mounted on a powerful white stallion. Behind them march a platoon of men from the Life Guards in the dark green uniforms, wearing their finest parade clothes and medals. Still behind them came the entourage of lesser dignitaries and nobility.
Pyotr was deeply impressed by the show of troops lining the route and the Russian flag hung so proudly from the Katterburg Herrenhaus.
"Gordon, these are the very men that repulsed the Turkish dogs three years ago, the great soldiers of the Holy Roman Empire!" Pyotr could barely contain his excitement.
"Some of them Sir, I have no doubt that after that horror many men will have retired to pleasant homes and yet more pleasant wives." Gordon stifled a laugh.
Pyotr waves to the crowd and some of his following retainers throw out gold and silver pieces. He wanted to leave as favourable an impression as possible. Many in the crowd would be hard pressed to guess that the Tsar was only sixteen, for he now stood just over six feet tall. Dwarfing even his tallest companions.
Once they reached the grounds of Schönbrunn and the entrance to the feast and ball Pyotr dismounted and allowed his horse to be taken away. His Life Guards stood to attention as the waited for the Emperor to welcome Pyotr inside. The two men were expected to greet each other formally before a more human show of affection, something like a strong handshake would be in order. The young Tsar was eager to discuss Russian-Austrian relations and Russia's admittance to the Holy League.
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Post by Leopold I von Habsburg on Feb 14, 2015 20:57:35 GMT
The grounds of the Schönbrunn are silent, not a sound is to be heard. An order of command is given, and with it the rows of Austrian soldiers, who had been lined facing each other within the grounds, creating a path directly to the Schönbrunn's main entrance, swing simultaneously to face it. The anthem of the Holy Roman Empire is heard. Out of the main entrance to the Schönbrunn march two exquisitely dress soldiers, both side by side, and in step, carrying poles that flew both the Russian and Austrian Standard. When they come level with Pyotr they split, one standing just to the right the other standing just to the left.
Leopold himself now appears. As if they were a single voice, the guards within the grounds shout "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser". Leopold himself now approaches Pyotr and General Gordon. A strong handshake between the two takes place. Leopold is said to have said "Today we are not making history, we correct it" - though his Russian was poor. Leopold, thanks Pyotr for his journey to Austria, and states how the entire Holy Roman Empire wishes him good health. Once the warm welcome ended, the Emperor invites both men into the Schönbrunn. Immediately Pytor and General Gordon are taken to Leopold's advisory room, in which his top advisors as well as members of the officer corps are waiting. It is clear that recreational activity we come later, for now the Emperor is keen to start Russo-Austrian alliance negotiations.
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Post by Pyotr Alekseevich on Feb 14, 2015 21:59:01 GMT
Pyotr thanks Leopold for his gracious and most humbling welcome. Pyotr has surprisingly good (if heavily accented) German, Pyotr was something of a natural linguist and due to his deep-seated interest in the German style of warfare had learned German some two years ago.
Once inside of the Emperors advisory room Pyotr allows his staff to familiarise themselves with their opposite numbers. Once the room is settled and formal introductions have been made, Pyotr begins discussions "Thank you you highness, for the most astoundingly warm welcome I have ever received, I hope one day to return the honour to yourself. But I feel we must now turn our minds, hearts and souls to the darkest of matters which lies upon the borders of civility, godliness and our nations. the scourge that is the Ottoman. I feel I must make apologies for my predecessors and their decision not to come to your aid in crushing the Muslim invader. I tell you now, this travesty shall never again be repeated! I put it to you that we must become the closest of friends and most loyal of allies when dealing with the Ottomans. To this end, I would like to see the Russian Empire join the Holy League."
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