Tyranny of Steel

While Berengar invaded Italy and the Swiss Confederation, the ongoing war in Germany had never ceased its activities. Duke Dietger was currently in a dilemma. Over the years, he had compensated for his losses in Austria by fielding peasant levies to make up for the numbers of troops slain during his botched occupation of his southern neighbor.

For over two years now, the Bavarian Duke had been at war with his northern Neighbors and relying on his levies and allied troops to keep the Luxembourgs at bay. To refrain from paying Berengar the reparations he owed the Austrian people, the Duke had sent an envoy saying he would not be able to meet his payments and instead would pay in one lump sum at the end agreed time frame.

Dietger had no intentions to pay Berengar, or the Austrian people such an unreasonable amount of money, reparations for actions taken during warfare? Just what kind of stipulation was that? It was simply being unreasonable.

Nevertheless, his General had agreed to the terms and entirely withdrew Bavarian troops from Austrian soil in the designated timeframe. By doing this, he had bought Bavaria five years of peace with their rapidly expanding southern neighbor.

At the moment the Bavarian Duke was sitting in his castle within Munich, surrounded by his ministers, one topic of contention seemed to invoke the ire of everyone present. One of his ministers was practically spitting as he shouted his views on the issue at hand.

”Berengar can not be allowed to achieve Independence. By claiming himself King of Austria, he declares himself independent of the rightful King of Germany, our liege Duke Dietger! Austria is a vassal of Germany first and foremost, and every Duke of the German realm should oppose this. Upon hearing this another man spoke up in an equally furious state.

”The Austrians have gotten too full of themselves, what gives them the right to declare themselves as an independent Kingdom? ” I say we establish a temporary truce with the Luxembourgs and march on Austria, showing this upstart King his place in this world! The fact that a lowly Baron ’s son could rise to such a prestigious position is an insult to every prominent nobleman within the German Speaking regions! ”