The return of the fallen king

Chapter 40: French-Papal meeting

The 15-day march to Rome was grueling for the French army. The men marched through difficult terrain and humid conditions that drained them of their energy in order to increase their speed. They faced exhaustion, hunger, and heat, but they still pushed on, determined to reach the pope in Rome and ensure the safety of their future interests in the city of Florence. Despite the moments of exhaustion and doubt, the men remained strong and focused on their duty to their king and their country. The march was a test of stamina and perseverance, one that required unwavering dedication and discipline. And despite the hardships, the men stayed united in their cause, determined to fulfill their mission.

As the army of King Charles came over the horizon, they sighted the ancient walls of Rome rising before them. The walls of Rome were a wonder of ancient engineering that had stood for centuries, a testament to the endurance and power of ancient Rome. The army approached the walls with awe, marveling at the history and significance of the city. The walls themselves bore the scars of war and time, but their grandeur and splendor remained, a symbol of Roman power and glory that endured long after the fall of the empire.

The history of the walls of Rome is an ancient one, dating back to the reign of the sixth king of Rome. The walls were then expanded during the imperial era, only to be left to decay during Rome's golden age since it was considered virtually impossible for the capital to be besieged without being stopped by its legions. That, however, was a time when the empire was at its strongest, and such a decision would prove to be its fatal mistake during the 5th century, an era where Rome would be sacked twice, first by the Vandals and then by the Visigoths.

Many times were the walls renovated, first by Aurelian and then by Belisarius, the last great Roman commander, who, during his invasion of Italy, renovated the wall to withstand the attacks from the Goths' armies.

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Once the army approached the walls of Rome, the gates were opened in a gesture of welcome. The army was allowed into the ancient city, and the men marveled at the historic surroundings. The walls, buildings, and streets gave the men a sense of connection to history, of being part of the legacy of ancient Rome. There was an air of reverence as they walked through the streets, taking in the sheer magnitude of the city and its history.

After the army was allowed inside the walls of Rome, King Charles was promptly invited to the palace of the Pope. He would have been welcomed into the papal palace with customary honors and ceremony, being treated with respect and deference as an esteemed guest. The pope is the head of the Catholic Church and the earthly representative of God, and as such, Charles should have been afforded the utmost respect throughout his visit. After a short tour of the palace, where he marveled at many works of art, he was then brought into the pope's private chambers to discuss their business. There, they would have had the opportunity to talk privately without anyone else nearby to distract or interrupt them.

The Pope gave off a dignified, serious air as the leader of the Catholic Church and as a semi-divine figure. Even though it was plain, his attire was magnificent and elaborate, reflecting the significance of his position and the regard in which he was held. Colorful silk or velvet robes were not permitted, but ornate embroidery and gold or jewel-encrusted clothing were. In addition to his wisdom and position in the church, his look exuded power and authority. His presence elicited a sense of respect and dignity befitting his status as a religious leader.

Charles soon experienced heart palpitations brought on by anxiety as he knelt before the Pope and kissed his feet. He was aware that he was speaking to the leader of the group on behalf of his people and family, and he understood that this was a huge honor and privilege. Charles tried to convince himself that the feet he was kissing were indeed those of the pope, but he was unable to get rid of the unpleasant sensation of such way of paying respect, for he considerated it degrading for his position. However, he understood the value of making a good first impression and the need to conduct himself honorably,as such he kept his irritation inside of him silently.

As they talked, Charles was conscious of his appearance and body language, and he tried to project confidence and respect while also being respectful and humble. He knew that this meeting could have far-reaching consequences for his future, and as such he was determined to present himself well. Soon enough, the pope asked about something that has always been in the back of his holiness mind: he asked Charles for the number of troops he had brought with him.

''Following me are 6,000 men, of whom 3,000 are knights and 3000 are men at arms. My army was brought with the understanding that it would have been the elite of the coalition, which will be reinforced by troops from all over Italy. May I ask his holiness which communes offered their support to our noble and holy cause?'' He spoke with confidence and pride in his voice, as he knew that this was a powerful force and an important asset for the protection of the church.

Pope Clement IV went silent for a bit and then, with a rough and stoic voice, listed the current communes on the papal-French side.

''We currently have the support of Milan, Florence, Urbino (which is a vassal of the Papal state), Siena, Lucca, Scandiano Trent, and Bologna, and many more minor factions.. Most of our supporters are from central Italy, and as such, you can understand how important it is to retain our alliance with Florence since if it falls apart, many other communes will consider switching sides. Meanwhile, most of northern Italy is neutral, apart from Milan and the bishopric of Trent.''

Charles listened carefully as the Pope listed the various communes under the papal-French cause, making a mental note to consider the implications of each one individually. He made sure to pay special attention when Florence was mentioned, and he understood the importance of keeping their support and alliance in the conflict. He was keen to keep the conversation flowing and to avoid any awkward silences or pauses, so he quickly responded, "I understand the importance of retaining our alliance with Florence, Your Holiness. I will make sure to take careful consideration of their interests and needs when making strategic decisions in the future.'' Obviously, the alliance he was willing to make with the Italian communes was one that was heavily in his interest, for Charles was interested in expanding his influence over all of northern Italy too.

The pope's words revealed a complicated diplomatic landscape. Many Italian cities had already chosen sides in the conflict between King Charles and Conrad, and most of them were on the pope's side. The Pope considered Florence to be particularly important since if they fell to Conradin, many other cities in the area were likely to follow suit. This made it imperative for the pope to retain the alliance with Florence and ensure their continued loyalty and support. He was laying out the current political situation for Charles to understand and consider the importance of Florence.

Charles pondered the pope's words before asking him about the estimate of the total army of the coalition.

''I estimate it will be between 19,000 and 22,000, whereas Conradin's army will be at most 13,000; as such, you can understand that we have superiority in number." The pope said while giving out a sigh and adjusting his back to the chair.

The pope's words calmed and even gave much confidence to Charles; their superiority in troops, along with the immatureness of Conradin, spelled victory in his mind.

The pope's words however did not end there for he suggested Charles to extend his diplomatic reach with another Italian faction.

''I suggest also calling in Venice, for you will also need naval support to fight against Conradin." The pope said while looking Charles in the eyes, trying to convey the importance of Venice's help.

"That is a great advantage to us, Your Holiness," Charles responded in agreement with the Pope. "I shall certainly seek the support of the Venetian navy if they are willing to aid us in our cause. I hope that they will see it as a just and righteous endeavor, and I shall assure them that we will repay their support in kind if they choose to give it. It would be of great advantage to us to have a navy on our side, and I am confident we can persuade them to aid us if they can see the potential to benefit from doing so."

After a bit of silence, the Pope acknowledged the problem and nodded to Charles.

"Is there anything else you need to discuss with me before I leave, Your Holiness?" Charles inquired politely, "I am always at your service to do anything I am able to for you and to ensure our continued friendship and alliance." He hoped that the Pope would be satisfied with their discussions, as he knew that this meeting was important to establish the grounds of their relationship. The main points of discussion were done, but their talks were not over, as the pope and Charles needed to speak about some other things about the future of their relationship after Conradin was dealt with. (see author's thought to understand the personality and behaviour of Charles )

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