In 1467, after enjoying a fragile and short-lived peace, the whole of Europe once again entered a dark age of incessant conflict.
Unlike the Empire, which had just recovered peace from decades of chaos, the situation on all sides of the Empire was quite tense.
In the west of the Empire, the Second League of Public Weal War broke out, and the Kingdom of France was in disarray.
In the north of the Empire, the Kalmar Union was plagued by internal strife, and the Swedes' independence tendencies had brought this already fragile personal union to the brink of collapse.
In the east of the Empire, the Poles were gradually recovering from the Prussian War.
Although they had lost Red Ruthenia and parts of Greater Poland, their almost intact core territory meant that Poland still possessed a considerable military force.
The Teutonic Order, relying on war reparations from the Poles and subsidies from the Emperor, finally regained some of its former glory, but all this came at a price.
Firstly, the German branch of the Order now pledged allegiance to the Emperor and was reorganized into the Royal Order of Saint George, garrisoned in Bulgaria.
The most important Warmia Archdiocese within the Order was originally supposed to be controlled by members of the Order, but the Emperor seized the opportunity during the war to cooperate with the Pope, allowing a clergyman from Austria to take control of Warmia.
This Archbishop, as per custom, joined the Order, but the knights were well aware that he represented the Emperor, reminding the Order to remain loyal to the Emperor who had rescued them from despair.
The Teutonic Order had already proven its loyalty in the Pomeranian War, curbing the ambitious Elector of Brandenburg's expansionist attempts.
Of course, their decision to ally with Pomerania was not only due to the Emperor's directive but also to ensure peace in their rear, making it easier for them to concentrate their forces against Poland.
Considering the Order's special mission and their active participation in the Imperial Conference, Laszlo exempted the Order from public donations, just as he had previously excluded the Teutonic Order State from all major regions.
They were not affected by the Imperial Diet but were required to act according to the Emperor's arrangements.
For Laszlo, the greatest use of the Teutonic Order, an auxiliary military force of the Empire, was to keep it there to antagonize the Kingdom of Poland, preventing the Poles from constantly causing him trouble.
In the south of the Empire, the war between the Emperor and the Venetians was still ongoing, dealing a heavy blow to the entire Mediterranean trade network that relied on the city of Venice as a transit hub.
In the more distant Balkans, Wallachia, Bulgaria, and Greece were all experiencing the ravages of war.
Every day, hundreds of thousands of people on this continent died in war or were displaced.
In contrast, Northern Italy, which had maintained peace for many years after the Milan Pact, could almost be called a paradise on earth, where the people generally lived in prosperity and tranquility.
Thanks to the permanent Italian Parliament established in Milan and the Emperor's powerful military, Northern Italy was almost no longer troubled by internal strife.
Moreover, the war between Austria and Venice forced the Venetians to sell more valuable goods to the Northern Italian states on their doorstep, and Genoa's flourishing trade also channeled more wealth to Italy, greatly stimulating Northern Italy's economic development.
The seeds of the Renaissance also began to sprout in central Italian cities such as Ferrara, Florence, Milan, and Rome.
Against this backdrop, Laszlo embarked on another journey to Rome.
This journey was very peaceful; after leaving the Austrian border escorted by two squadrons of Guards, the Northern Italian states along the way provided hospitality and escorts to the Emperor.
Although no one believed that some reckless fellow would attack the Emperor's touring party, proper protection was necessary, as it both demonstrated the Emperor's majesty and gave the princes an opportunity to declare their loyalty.
The touring party soon arrived in Florence, where the Pazzi Family, who had been granted the grace to rule Florence by Laszlo, prepared a grand knightly tournament to welcome the Emperor.
The morning sun pierced through the thin mist, casting its light on the vast jousting arena on the outskirts of Florence.
The wooden fences around the arena were packed with people; noblewomen sat in the stands, their velvet skirts gathered, while commoners peered through the fences into the arena.
Around the jousting arena, a variety of flags fluttered in the wind; in addition to the most familiar flag of the Pazzi Family, consisting of two golden dolphins, there were also the Emperor's eagle banner, and the flags of the Marquis of Montferrat, the Marquis of Ferrara, the Marquis of Mantua, and the Governor of Genoa.
The most powerful magnates in all of Italy sat in the most prominent high seats in the stands, awaiting the opening of this magnificent performance.
Apart from Jacob de Pazzi, the Marquis of Florence, the other important princes had followed the Emperor all the way to Florence.
When the Emperor's entourage left Florence, Pazzi would also depart with the Emperor for Rome to discuss the upcoming Crusade matters together.
Therefore, Laszlo and the princes regarded this grand knightly tournament as a prelude to the Crusade, hoping to inspire the knights' courage and encourage them to actively participate in the upcoming holy war.
However, the Italian knightly tournaments, compared to the raw and wild German ones, still lacked a bit of ferocity, being more about spectacle and entertainment.
With several long horn blasts, two teams of elaborately dressed knights rode out from the porticos on either side of the field.
Some were renowned knights invited to participate in the tournament, some were young knights hoping to gain fame through the opportunity, and the rest were representatives sent by the Emperor and various rulers.
Just their entrance alone captivated the audience, and the crowd erupted in gasps of admiration.
The knights' magnificent and thick armor would certainly not be of much use on the battlefield, but in the jousting arena, it provided stable protection and a good visual effect.
After the knights' entrance ceremony, the host announced the theme of this tournament as the "Crusade."
Just like when the knights who participated in past Crusades held tournaments in Cyprus, some carefully selected actors began to perform various legends and historical stories for the audience, such as the enduring legend of King Arthur and the rituals of the Knights of the Round Table, as well as the story of a famous monarch in the Empire's history.
This monarch was Rudolf I, who ended the Great Interregnum of the Empire, killed Ottokar II, the King of Bohemia, and thus seized Austria; he was also the first Emperor of the Habsburg Family.
Although Laszlo had not made any special requests to Pazzi, Pazzi still meticulously prepared all this.
Laszlo was naturally quite pleased with such an understanding subordinate.
He chatted happily with Pazzi in the stands.
In the center of the jousting arena, the moment the referee raised his scepter and shouted "Begin," two warhorses simultaneously sprang forward.
Two young knights, full of courage and eager for honor, spurred their warhorses to launch a fierce charge at each other along the dividing barrier in the middle of the field.
Antonio Tocco, on the left, was one of the knights sent by Laszlo.
He was the brother of the Despot of Epirus, a hot-blooded young warrior.
He was the first to level his lance; the oak shaft was covered with a thin iron sheet, and the blunt, coronet-shaped tip pointed directly at his opponent's chest.
The knight opposite him was from Milan; he was invited to participate in this tournament and now also hoped to perform well in front of the Emperor.
He suddenly turned his body, gripping the reins tightly with his left hand and adjusting the angle of his lance with his right.
With a crisp clang, both heavy lances struck their respective targets.
The shields effectively shattered the lance tips, but the ensuing impact severely tested the knight's skill.
Although young, Antonio, who had years of experience in the army, was clearly superior.
The knight from Milan fell from his horse, and the host immediately raised his scepter to announce the result of the match.
Antonio removed his rather Imperial-style pot helmet, revealing a sweat-soaked face, with sweat seeping from his temples dampening his black hair.
He came before the stands where the Emperor and other princes were, enjoying the cheers that almost tore off the roof, and the admiring glances from the noblewomen.
Laszlo congratulated and encouraged him.
The knight, in a victor's pose, rode a lap around the arena, stirring up shouts from the audience, then left gracefully to prepare for his next duel.
"Your Majesty, it seems I must congratulate you on gaining a brave warrior.
I heard this young man actually fought against the Ottomans?"
Pazzi congratulated Laszlo with a smile.
"Indeed," Laszlo nodded and said, "During the Crusade more than ten years ago, Antonio followed his brother, the Despot of Epirus, to strike at the remaining Ottoman forces in the Balkans.
Therefore, he possesses both courage and experience.
I need more brave warriors like him to help me retake Constantinople and expel the Ottoman."
Upon hearing this, not only Pazzi but also the princes sitting around them understood the Emperor's meaning.
So, the Emperor's trip to Rome was not for the Pope, but for them.
The Emperor first sought international support, forming a naval blockade against the Ottomans, and was now fiercely engaged with the Venetians.
Then, within the Empire, the Emperor began to reap profits from the entire Empire through an Imperial Conference; those princes had to grudgingly pay public donations.
Even the Burgundy region, which was outside the Empire, had rumors of agreeing to pay taxes.
Now, only the Northern Italian states within the Empire had not yet been exploited by the Emperor; indeed, what was coming could not be avoided.
They and the Imperial princes north of the mountains were already operating under two different systems.
The Milan Pact made them bear more "Imperial obligations," including contributing money to cover a portion of the Imperial Army's military expenses in the Venetia region.
This was already unequal enough; unexpectedly, the Emperor still felt it was not enough and now wanted to make another profit.
This made several rulers and governors, with the exception of the Marquis of Montferrat, look troubled.
"Your Majesty, I will wholeheartedly support you in launching a holy war and fighting the Ottomans."
After a moment of hesitation, Pazzi gritted his teeth and immediately pledged his commitment to the Emperor.
Was he short of money?
He was not short of money at all.
The estimated cost of this tournament was one hundred thousand florins, which was more than half of Florence's annual income, but to curry favor with the Emperor and to demonstrate his family's prestige, he gritted his teeth and paid this sum.
Now the Emperor needed the support of the Italian princes.
In fact, the Emperor's own power was already strong enough, and he had also gained more help through various diplomatic means, which meant that whether these Italian princes supported him or not would not have much impact.
So, the Emperor's current demand was actually a test to see if they were loyal.
Considering that this might concern the future development of his family, Pazzi went all out, even stating his position before William, the Marquis of Montferrat, who was most loyal to the Emperor, could speak.
As expected, the Emperor's gaze immediately changed, and Pazzi clearly knew that he had made the most correct choice.
Moreover, there were many forms of support, such as military support or financial support, and Pazzi, whose main profession was a banker, even considered providing loan support.
However, if he actually did that, it would probably displease the Emperor considerably, as the Emperor seemed to be trying to gain something for nothing, or to put it bluntly, to extort money.
"Your Majesty, Genoa's navy is willing to serve you, defend the faith, and strike down infidels and their allies."
Adelno, the Governor of Genoa, then reacted and immediately made his stance clear.
He emphasized the word "allies," clearly hinting at the Venetians, who were currently suffering from the combined attacks of Austria and Genoa.
William also expressed his attitude to the Emperor at this time; he would always support the Emperor's decisions, and basically no one present doubted his loyalty.
After all, this Marquis was a "wise man" who had broken with his brother on the front lines and defected to the Emperor.
He set an example for later converts, showing them what rich rewards could be gained by being loyal to the Emperor.
Seeing that everyone else had expressed their stance, the Marquis of Ferrara and the Marquis of Mantua, who had been feigning deafness, reluctantly expressed their support to the Emperor.
Perhaps they would have to cut some of their cultural and artistic investments in the next few years.
Although the war had not affected Italy, the Emperor was dragging them into a war that had nothing to do with them.
Seeing the Northern Italian rulers unified in their stance, Laszlo was very satisfied and full of confidence for his upcoming trip to Rome.
The tournament and the grand banquets held every evening lasted for five full days.
The entire city of Florence was celebrating, celebrating the continuation of peace and the Emperor's arrival.
Just like the Feast of the Pheasant held by Philip the Good, Laszlo once again garnered considerable aid through such a grand event.
One particularly good thing about these wealthy Italian rulers was that they had sufficient capital to fulfill their promises and would likely not procrastinate like the princes within the Empire.
Next, in Rome, he would have to discuss with the Pope how to heavily extort money from these people.
As the grand event concluded, the Emperor's touring party grew even larger, with the Marquis of Florence's entourage joining in.
As many as several thousand people departed from Florence for Rome; among them were the Emperor and his court, the Italian princes and their retinues, and thousands of pilgrims and zealots who had come upon hearing the news.
The grand procession poured into Rome, making the entire city lively.
People who loved a spectacle flocked to the streets, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Emperor's majesty, and the sides of the streets were already packed with people.
Bugle calls echoed over Rome, as a large contingent of magnificent knights, arrayed in two columns, led the way; their armor was even more striking than the Roman nobles' brocade—exquisitely crafted armor from Milanese workshops, adorned with delicate patterns and additional embellishments.
These knights, fortunate enough to be the vanguard of the procession, were mostly brave warriors who had performed well in previous knightly tournaments.
Then, the boisterous crowd suddenly quieted.
Laszlo rode a tall, black horse in the center of the procession; he wore no helmet, his golden-brown hair tied back with a ribbon, appearing more robust than his widely circulated portraits.
He wore a Milanese plate armor with a pitch-black base, decorated with various golden patterns, almost all the emblems of the countries and regions ruled by the Emperor carved upon it.
"Is that him? The Emperor who governs the Empire and possesses many crowns?"
Low murmurs arose from the crowd.
"Look at that flag—a double-headed eagle embroidered on a yellow background, its talons clutching a crown and a scepter!"
At this moment, the many attendants following the Emperor suddenly pulled out bags and scattered specially minted gold and silver coins into the crowd.
Unlike the imperial currency circulating in the market, the obverse of these coins still bore the double-headed eagle emblem, while the image of John the Baptist on the reverse was replaced by the Emperor's profile.
The purpose of these coins was to proclaim the Emperor's exalted status and sovereignty to the people on the day of his entry into Rome. Coins worth two thousand florin were thrown to the crowds along the way. A poet present at the time even described it in his later recollections as "gold coins falling like rain," comparing it to an ancient Roman triumph and claiming that such a ceremony demonstrated the Emperor's resolve and confidence for the upcoming Crusade.
Such actions directly caused a large-scale commotion in the crowd, as people scrambled for the Emperor's "boons."
No one knew who started it, but shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" erupted from the crowd.
Laszlo also frequently waved to the people, while ordering the soldiers separating the crowd not to treat the citizens watching the ceremony roughly.
He wanted to portray himself as "Rome's protector and master," rather than merely being welcomed as an ally of the Pope who ruled Rome.
Perhaps when he eventually marched on Rome, these citizens would remember his generosity today and abandon resistance. From the current situation, his goal seemed to have been achieved. The people here were not living well under Paul II; they were impoverished, destitute, and exploited. His "bread and circuses" tactics might leave a deep impression on the Romans.
Under the fervent adoration of the people, the procession arrived at St. Peter's Basilica.
The church bells rang, and a Cardinal in red robes, leading a group of priests, greeted the Emperor in the square.
The Cardinal, holding a silver cross, walked up to Laszlo's horse, knelt, and presented the cross to the Emperor: "The Holy See bids me tell Your Majesty that Rome eagerly welcomes your arrival."
Laszlo dismounted, his movements somewhat slow—the plate armor restricted his mobility.
He took the cross, kissed it, and softly replied in Latin: "May God bless Rome, and bless the holy land of Christ."
He glanced back at the crowded people, then turned and followed the guiding Cardinal into the depths of the church.
"Your esteemed Majesty, I finally have the opportunity to express my gratitude to you in person; your gift is delightful."
Away from the crowd, the Cardinal suddenly turned and whispered to Laszlo, his gratitude evident in his tone.
Laszlo paused, then realized: "Are you Francesco della Rovere?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, I am honored to have caught your attention."
Francesco smiled, his tone very friendly.
He rose from humble beginnings, climbing steadily through his own efforts over the past few decades, finally reaching the position of Cardinal.
What surprised him even more was the olive branch extended by the Emperor. Marquis William of Montferrat had brought him the Emperor's gifts and congratulations, which made the opportunistic Francesco see a possibility he had never considered before.
"I have always greatly respected people of noble character and profound learning, and you are indeed one of them."
Laszlo did not stint on his praise. Francesco, as the head of the Franciscan order and a professor at several Italian universities, could indeed be called both virtuous and talented.
What was even more commendable was that his father was merely a Genoese fisherman, and he had climbed to the position of Cardinal through his own efforts, which was admirable enough.
"You flatter me, Your Majesty."
Such praise, or rather flattery, flattered Francesco. He saw that the Emperor wanted to befriend him, and he likewise wanted to curry favor with the Emperor.
The saying goes, a soldier who doesn't want to be a marshal is not a good soldier, and a clergyman who doesn't want to be Pope is not a good clergyman.
Francesco now coveted the highest position in the Church hierarchy, and to sit in that position, the support of this esteemed person before him was indispensable.
Laszlo's idea was also simple: a Pope who was on good terms with him or had a handle in his hand would be easier to control and could provide him with more convenience.
Even if Francesco eventually proved to lack the qualifications to become Pope, as a Cardinal, he could still provide considerable assistance to the Emperor.
The two, each with their own thoughts, chatted happily along the way. Unfortunately, the path into the church was not long, and their conversation soon ended. Laszlo finally met the main figure, Paul II.
This was his first meeting with this Pope from Venice.
The last time he came to Rome was to attend the funeral of the previous Pope, Pius II. At that time, they had discussed Paul II, who was then a Cardinal.
Although the conservative Paul II might not have been the best choice for the Church, he was the only compromise acceptable to all warring factions.
This somewhat handsome Pope truly astonished Laszlo. He had thought that the contents written in Platina's articles were mere fabrications.
Platina, an enemy of the Pope, had previously been released from prison by the Pope and, after repentance, was appointed librarian of the Vatican Library. During this time, he wrote several widely circulated articles about Paul II.
Although the content seemed to praise the Pope, it was in fact subtly sarcastic, but Paul II did not concern himself with these matters.
Laszlo remembered reading a story that mentioned Paul II "always prided himself on his handsome appearance."
This was, of course, understandable; most men were like this, were they not?
However, Platina then added his own creation, claiming that when Paul II was elected, he had hoped to adopt the title "Formosus," meaning "handsome person."
But according to Bessarion, who presided over that papal election and told Laszlo personally, Paul II had merely played a trick to deceive the Cardinals and had not made such a frivolous suggestion.
In reality, a Pope as conservative and conventional as Paul II would most likely not do such a thing.
"Esteemed Emperor, defender of the faith, your footsteps make the very stones of Rome tremble."
Paul II's voice drew Laszlo's attention back. His heavy Venetian accent made Laszlo slightly uncomfortable.
This fifty-year-old Pope was indeed as handsome as he boasted. He was slender, dressed in snow-white vestments, and the triple tiara swayed slightly on his head, like layers of golden halos.
This attire was probably the most unadorned he could find.
Paul II, born into a Venetian merchant family, was insatiably acquisitive and very particular about his clothing and adornments. A single jewel-encrusted tiara of his was worth a magnificent palace.
During his time as Cardinal, goldsmiths were often exhausted from crafting his jeweled emblems.
These treasures and other expensive classical artworks he stored in the Palazzo Venezia, which he built for himself.
The peculiar thing was that most of Paul II's income came from industries he supported and other sources, unlike past Popes who excelled at accumulating wealth by elaborately selling church offices and indulgences.
Although Rome under his rule was not as orderly and beloved by the populace as it was during the time of Pius II, it was at least generally just.
"Holy See," Laszlo's voice was somewhat hoarse from the long journey. He then raised a cup to moisten his throat and continued, "I come for the holy faith, to defend Rome, the Empire, and the entire Christendom.
The Ottomans still occupy Constantinople, and you must have heard that there have been frequent disturbances in the Balkans recently. All of this is due to the machinations of the infidels."
Paul II's fingers tapped lightly on his jewel-encrusted crozier. He replied with a solemn expression: "As long as the threat of the infidels is not removed, the frontiers of faith will forever be under threat.
Fortunately, we have now gathered many brave warriors intent on defending the faith. This time, we will surely end the threat posed by the Ottomans." Hearing this, Laszlo nodded slightly. This Paul II was not bad.
At the beginning of the papal election, he, like all other Cardinals, had promised that if elected Pope, he would wage war against the Ottoman Turks; convene a great council to discuss church reform; limit the number of Cardinals to 24, with no more than one relative of the Pope among them; not appoint anyone under 30 as Cardinal; consult the Cardinals on important appointments, and so on.
These promises were long-standing campaign rhetoric, and no Pope had ever seriously implemented them. After his election, Paul II, although he completely repudiated these assurances, did not entirely forget all of their contents.
To appease the Cardinals who demanded he fulfill his promises, he raised each Cardinal's annual stipend to four thousand florin and decided to achieve something significant in the holy war to silence the members of the College of Cardinals.
And to achieve this goal, cooperation with the Emperor was almost the only option.
Especially after abandoning his motherland, Venice, Paul II had almost no psychological burden regarding cooperation with the Emperor.
"The resolution made by the Imperial Diet has already been confirmed by you. As you can see, the princes of the Empire have all contributed their respective strengths.
During this time, I have also persuaded the princes of Northern Italy to join the Crusade, and a powerful Crusade will be organized in the vast territories under my rule to fight the Ottomans.
However, these forces alone are not enough. The Empire's army needs more funds to be recruited, and we also need to find more allies, preferably allies who can provide naval support."
Laszlo analyzed the current composition of the Crusader forces, which basically involved the Empire and the many vassal states under his rule. It looked as if he, the Emperor, was single-handedly launching a massive Crusade.
He indeed had such capabilities, but fighting alone was not a good thing, and it meant that the risks he had to bear would multiply.
Since it was a holy war to defend the faith, he naturally had to gather a group of junior allies to launch a righteous assault on the Ottomans.
Paul II quickly understood the Emperor's meaning. Laszlo not only wanted the Pope to provide some gold but also wanted to leverage the Pope's status and prestige to attract more sponsors.
"The Vatican's treasury is almost depleted," the Pope said with hesitation. His construction of the Palazzo Venezia, and collection of numerous artworks and books had already drained the Vatican's savings. At this time, he wished he could ask the Emperor for money, but instead, the Emperor turned to him for money. After some deliberation, he tentatively suggested, "How about... selling some indulgences within the Empire to raise funds?"
Laszlo's vision darkened, and he did not agree with this suggestion.
He had already levied an imperial public contribution using this as an excuse. If the Pope were to take another cut, the process of the Reformation might take another big step forward.
"That might not be appropriate. I will find other ways to raise funds."
Since the Emperor rejected it, Paul II did not insist.
In fact, he was secretly complaining. If Pius II had not granted the Emperor the title of [Defender of the Faith] several years ago, he could have used such a nominal title to negotiate terms with the Emperor. Now, he could only play his role in other aspects.
"Regarding the allies you mentioned, King Ferdinand I of Naples has already arrived in Rome. We will hold another meeting later, gathering the imperial princes who came with you, as well as the King of Naples, to jointly discuss the matters of the Crusade."
As soon as the Emperor arrived in Rome, the King of Naples was almost certain to come. This was an excellent opportunity not to be missed to maintain the alliance between the Empire and Naples, and this time was no exception.
Naples's support had always existed; currently, the Neapolitan fleet was still assisting Austria in fighting the Venetians.
Therefore, this did not meet Laszlo's expectations.
"Are there no other monarchs or nobles from other countries willing to support this holy expedition?"
"There is one more. The King of Portugal's envoy is still in Rome. The reply from Alfonso V that he brought shows some interest in the Crusade.
However, there is another matter he is more concerned about, which is the continuation of the alliance with Austria. Perhaps you would be interested in meeting this envoy."
"Of course."
Laszlo suppressed his excitement and immediately agreed to this.