As Marin expected, the original two barons and five knights on the land on the east bank of the Rhine River in the Principality of Clifford finally agreed to Marin's acquisition.
However, in exchange for their consent, Marin also made a heavy blow. For example, it cost a huge price to acquire real estate such as castles that these seven nobles could not take away.
Originally, those castles and houses were all old buildings and should be handled at the price of old houses. But now Marin begs them. So, they proposed to let Marin buy them at the price of the new building...
But Marin had to pay 10,000 or 20,000 gold coins more. But their reasons were also very good - only by getting the money to build these castles and houses could they build similar buildings on the new fiefdom. After all, as barons and knights, they also have to show off. Buildings such as castles and Knight Manors (manors with simple defense functions) are also necessary.
If Marin acquired their real estate at the market price at the depreciated amount, then when they arrived at the new fiefdom, they might not have enough funds to build their homes. After all, in this era, the finances of the nobles were generally not good. Moreover, now Marin begged them to buy this land, and it is reasonable to ask for a higher price.
In addition, in order to quickly gain a foothold in the new territory, these seven nobles also took away some of the former manors. These civilians were thugs trained by these seven nobles, and were private troops who maintained the rule of the nobles. When they arrived in a new place, if there were no thugs, these nobles would not be at ease. Marin agreed with this.
...
After settled the Principality of Cliver, the next step was to contact Bishop Conrad, Münster. In addition, he needed to write a letter to the Pope's father-in-law, Julius II, and asked him to cooperate with the transfer of several monasteries in the western part of South Minster. In addition, to do this, he also needed to bribe Bishop Conrad...
But this matter is not in a hurry, because no matter when the agreement is reached, it will take until the autumn harvest is over before delivery will be carried out. After all, the food planted in spring cannot be cheaper to latecomers.
Therefore, Marin is not in a hurry to get land delivery now. At present, his most important thing is to go to Walms to attend the Imperial Conference with John II, Duke of Cliff.
...
Of course, Marin was not in a hurry to go to the Imperial Parliament to swear to seek the understanding of the princes. His main purpose was to hope that the princes would support him in annexing the Recklinhausen area.
Although Marin and the Archbishop of Cologne had reached an agreement, the Lord Otto III, who controlled the Recklinhausen region and Schaumburg, was not willing to lose Recklinhausen, a place larger than the territory he owned.
Therefore, while Marin was seeking to exchange territory with the Principality of Berg and the Principality of Cliver, this buddy was also connecting with the princes, wanting to reject Marin's forced acquisition of the Recklinhausen area. His reason was to accept the Archbishop of Cologne's own redeem of Recklinhausen, but he did not agree with Marin's third party to acquire the Recklinhausen area. His views were supported by many princes. Therefore, Marin needed to make a fight at this meeting.
But Marin had already prepared for a long time, and he decided that if the princes did not agree to him forcing Recklinhausen to buy Recklinhausen, he would not swear not to send troops to help the Habsburg family. Only when the Imperial Parliament agreed to his annexation of Recklinhausen would he be willing to swear in public and put it on paper.
...
After arriving at Walms, Marin visited Maximilian I, who was present as usual. His Majesty the Emperor was deeply moved, and he also knew that Marin was forced this time. However, he really hoped that Marin could send troops to help him.
However, this is the national condition of Shenluo - the emperor is just a great prince and cannot influence the will of other princes...
Although the Habsburg family also attracted a group of princes including the Swabian League to support him, unfortunately, his allies were too weak in combat. Before, Zurich, a small Swiss alliance, beat the princes of the Swabian League to abandon their armor. He was really unsure of relying on these weak allies.
Marin's combat power is very strong, but unfortunately, Marin is far away from Austria in the north, and is too far away from southern Austria. Moreover, because of his strong combat power, it has caused strong uneasiness among the princes. For this reason, Marin has been threatened by the princes several times.
Take this meeting as an example. The theme is that most German princes united and threatened Marin to swear not to support his unification of Germany... Is he a paralyzed, and he, the emperor, has come to attend the meeting. Isn't you slapping me in the face in person?
However, Maximilian I had no choice. Although the Holy Roman Empire was dressed in the gorgeous cloak of "Roman Empire" and added the prefix of "Sacred", in fact, the Holy Roman Empire still retained the ancient Germanic chiefs' council system. The emperor could only be regarded as a large chief selected by a group of chiefs and had no real power at all. Therefore, even if we knew that everyone forced Marin to not send troops to help him unify Germany, we could only stare at him.
...
On July 30, the regular meeting of the Imperial Conference officially began. Archbishop Jacob of Mainz still delivered an opening speech and announced the beginning of the regular meeting.
After chatting about a few more idiotic topics, the princes present turned their attention to Marin. It was obvious that they were all waiting for Marin to swear...
But Marin did not do what they wanted. She stood up calmly, took out the prepared manuscript, cleared her throat and said:
"Please allow me to announce something before you perform the steps you are looking forward to..."
"Please speak!" Archbishop Jacob of Mainz waved his hand and signaled.
"I have reached an agreement with the Archbishop of Cologne, which has promised to mortgage the secular rule of the Recklinhausen area of ​​Schaumburg, for sale with me..."
"I object! You are forcibly buying and have no consideration of our opinions!" At this time, Otto III, Earl of Schaumburg, couldn't help but stand up and interrupt Marin's words.
Marin smiled and said:
"Earl Otto, I remember that the sovereignty of Recklinhausen belongs to the Archbishop of Cologne? Strictly speaking, you are just a tenant in the Recklinhausen area. Who do the landlords want to sell the house to? Does the renter have the right to object?"
Otto III was speechless, but he was also prepared. After calming down, Otto III continued:
"The Recklinhausen region has been in the Schaumburg State for more than 60 years, and the Archbishop of Cologne has not been redeemed within 60 years. Recklinhausen should belong to our Schaumburg State. You must know that according to the rules of the pawnshop, it is considered dead for more than 60 days, and pawnshops have the right to permanently possess the mortgaged items. The Archbishop of Cologne has not redeemed Recklinhausen for 60 years. The Recklinhausen region is regarded as dead for the purpose of belonging to the Schaumburg State…"
Otto III's statement is quite evidenced. In general, if the pawnshop fails to redeem the mortgaged property in time within a certain period of time, then the pawnshop has the right to permanently possess the mortgaged property...
Many princes expressed support for Otto III's view. However, those who supported Otto III were mainly secular princes. As for those religious princes, they looked at Archbishop Herman IV of Cologne and were waiting for his statement.
Marin was also stunned by Otto III's words, but he didn't expect the other party to find this reason. But Marin thought quickly for a while and then gave a rebuttal:
"Earl Otto, what you are talking about is the pawning rule of property. The Recklinhausen region is a territory, and a sovereign territory cannot be changed easily. Therefore, the rule you are talking about does not apply."
"How do you know it doesn't apply?" Otto III, Earl of Schaumburg, said with his neck.
"How do you know that it applies?" Marin fought back with the same routine.
"Anyway, I will never agree to hand over Recklinhausen."
"You can't help but be a bad tenant who stays in someone else's house and refuses to leave?"
"I am not a bad tenant. According to the rules of the pawning industry, Recklinhausen is mine."
After Otto III finished speaking, many secular princes actually expressed their support. It seemed that the other party was a little confident.
After thinking about it, Malin suddenly laughed:
"Earl Otto, you talk about the rules of the pawn industry. May I ask, what is that? Is the law? I don't remember that there is such an imperial law..."
Indeed, the legal system in this era is not perfect. The rule mentioned by Otto III is just an unspoken rule of the industry, but it has never been recognized at the legal level. Without clear legal provisions, Marin could insist that it was illegal...
Otto III, Earl of Schaumburg, was stunned:
"Is this necessary legislation? That's what the pawn industry association stipulates..."
Marlin was immediately displeased:
"The change of sovereignty in the territory is a major national event and is determined by us great nobles. When can the lowly people from the pawn industry association help us decide? Only the laws promulgated by the empire are the only criterion for us to act. Lord Otto, please do not take the rules between merchants to the Imperial Parliament for example. Because we and they are people from two worlds!"
Marin's words were righteous and flawless. Many princes of the Habsburg family and some neutral princes applauded Marin's remarks.
Most of the princes present relied on their own identities. Although their economic conditions may not be good, most of them have high regard for themselves. For those rich businessmen, they envy them for their wealth and look down on them. It seems that only in this way can they regain their confidence as nobles... And this remark from Marin made them sound extremely comfortable...
At this time, Archbishop Herman IV, who had been a spectator for a while, suddenly took out a piece of parchment and said:
"This is the treaty of that year, and it is clearly written that Recklinhausen was temporarily mortgaged to Schaumburg. There seems to be no evidence on the above that the Archbishop of Cologne sold Recklinhausen to Schaumburg..."
Chapter completed!