"Furthermore, we declare, we proclaim, we define that it is absolutely necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff."
~ Pope Boniface VIII, Unam Sanctam
January 8, 1842
We have issued a scathing condemnation of Piedmonte's unholy excursion into Switzerland. Let the world know that the Papal States shall stand with the just.
The King of Sicily struggles to maintain hold of a broken nation. Rumor has it that Ferdinand is attempting to forge a union with the royals of Piedmonte to no avail. United they'll fall, divided they'll fall. It makes no difference to me.
February 2
Among Cardinal Canalan's discreet suggestions was a request to increase the good will between ourselves and the United States of America. I have written a letter to their President congratulating them on their nation's dedication, and urged them in politest tones to end the abominations of slavery. In return we received a basket of dried fruit.
April 22
It's been a most quiet year and I'm enjoying the 1802 brandy I found in the cellar downstairs. We can't do much while we build our infrastructure and cool our notoriety.
August 8
Since we're making a little money I thought I should stock up on opium while the getting is good.
October 6
Word from the Dutch crown, they have annexed the Sultunate of Sulu, which will be administered as part of the Dutch Indies.
Let them have their little islands.
November 22
Research has begun on those wondrous steam ships France is boasting about our sea. When we're able to sail our vessels through the powers of fire we will be nearer to maritime control of the Mediterranean. Once that is ours not even France and England will threaten us. In time there will be no sea trade to continue without our indulgence.
December 5
December 27
In the wake of Christmas many Neapolitan capitalists are starting construction on factories throughout the States. Few in Rome have the authority to stop them while His Holiness remains ill, and I am in little hurry to do so.
January 1, 1843
New members of the College have arrived in Rome: Cardinals Alz, McCrea, and Barbarossa. I know very little about each and will have to spend time making acquaintance.
February 6
Tensions continue to boil on the borders of Tripoli. I have sent the Ottomans a diplomatic insult.
March 3
In order to secure our northern border the States have been pursuing a peaceful relationship with the Austrian Empire. Indeed, it seems the relationship is as good as it will ever get.
My ties to Austria serve to convince Ferdinand we are of the same stance, but neither Rome nor Vien have moved our troops from the border. If war breaks out on the north it will be a red day.
March 23
Incredible developments in Russia, an extremist faction has overthrown the Tsar and the entire Russian Empire is now being run by merchant nobles from Novgorod. The Ancien Regimes of Europe will be trembling in their thrones after this.
April 7
Viewing the reports on Turkish strength and diplomacy, I suddenly have little desire to engage the Ottomans for control of Benghazi. They've forged alliances with Austria and Prussia, and our army will not stand before the combined might of Germany if it be God's will they should attack. Only prayer would serve a purpose after the declaration of war, for the fate of our nation would be sealed. But I fear God will not open the Earth to swallow the enemies we have earned.
A brother by the name of Antonio Carlo Napoleone Gallenga has published in Naples a book entitled "Italy Past and Present." Note that the future is left unwritten. By the time the common man is angered enough to arm, the Roman Republic shall be inches away from rebirth.
August 25
News from France that an armed mob of thousands were put down just outside of Paris. Louis proves to be an unpopular ruler in his country, and I fear it's only a matter of time before his troubles grow deeper.
Conservative preachers in Rome can see the changes coming across the horizon. They continue to sow division at rates far greater than anticipated. I have a trunk prepared with emergency clothes and wrappings of breads and nuts to last for days, just in case the worst should come too soon.
November 3
I wish Cardinal Jack would stop funneling church money to the Jesuit brotherhood. We'll never pay the Chinese back at this rate.
Note to self: Fix this
January 27
It would appear my search for an excuse to war with Egypt is over.
Let's see: Egypt is already at war with the Ottomans, who now occupy the whole of their former territory. The Egyptian army is probably already defeated, and this will be a mere matter of picking up their pieces from the sand. We will soon have the Holy Land.
Mobs are taking to the streets in Bologna. This is a positive sign. I may not need to wait until conclave after all.
Where there's a whip, there's a way!Nothing will anger the masses more than forcing our political prisoners to labor in chains.
April 25
Recent advancements have led our armed forces to obsolescence. If we are to be safe and respected by other nations we'll need to improve the strategic mobility of our armies. To that end we've secured the finest German drillmasters Italy has to offer.
September 24
The invasion of Egypt has begun. Our recently repaid loans are renegotiated now that artillery comes to the market.
Since the Ottomans beat us to Jerusalem, we hold fast and wait until they end their war. Our course depends on them.
October 2
Cardinal Cicero approached me during my evening prayers to denounce me as a warmongering tyrant. He cannot see the justice of our movement for he is convinced the Bible teaches against killing. And this is the incidental truth. He is not alone in his view, indeed the scholar Maimonides sustained that all cases of killing a human being were intolerable.
But I am not of that school. While the deliberate murder of an innocent person is a grave sin worthy of Perdition, the Bible offers many cases for war. Thou shalt not murder - if even thou must kill.
I endured this berating of my character as any other trial. What I have done is for the survival of the Holy Church itself! I care not if others see it. For our own existence we must keep our temporal and spiritual spheres quite distinct, even if we must pin them apart.
October 12
Monetary problems continue. The factories aren't filling fast enough. I hope this war ends quickly with a decisive victory so I can focus on organizing the workforce.
Artisans in Italy are facing a crisis, as required commodities like food become scarce and factories gobble our raw resources there is no demand for their meager output. I expect the middle class to shrink substantially in the next few years unless the lot of them turn to the clergy and become state-sponsored educators. Let's face it, what kind of smelter can compete with a steel factory?
November 12
Occupation of central Egypt is nearing completion. We've pressed on into the east, but the generals were told not to enter the holy land until after the Ottomans have withdrawn. The last thing we need is to start another war. Unless, that is, the Ottomans remove Judea from Egyptian control. Then I'm afraid we will have a big problem.
Well well well. It seems that Cardinal Barbarossa stands accused by an anonymous source of engaging in improper behavior with a Sicilian prostitute. It's nonsense, of course, but nonsense that will nonetheless rile up the public against the Holy See.
In other news, Free Trade activists have petitioned the Holy See for a relaxation of our mercantilist policies. In an effort to generate local revenue I've agreed to their terms.
November 26
The people of Italy are starving. Seeking a way to reduce their suffering I'm cutting naval spending and allowing the people to purchase needed goods from the Church stockpile. They need it more than our fat Roman deacons do, this is certain.
If I lowered taxes, they might be starving a bit less, but if I do that, we will go bankrupt.
The sad fact is that taxing the poor is more profitable than taxing the wealthy as there are just so many more poor. The trick to this, I imagine, is to elevate enough poor into the middle and upper classes so that the latter two outnumber the first. But I wonder. Could a society without any poor at all continue to function? And can the levels of each class be manipulated to serve whatever certain goals the State requires?
I will suggest that my Order experiment in this matter. Not in Italia, though. I have a fondness for her. Some other damned country will do.
Still, my heart goes out to the suffering. I am only barely comforted knowing I am building toward the world wherein they will not.
February 2, 1845
Colonization is often portrayed by the crowns at home as a largely bloodless affair when it fact parts of it are rather monstrous. Yet I hesitate to call the nobles of Europe monsters. There is a real desire of all but the most corrupt to improve the world. In their self-righteousness they see their duty to bring civilization to a barbarian people considered not equals but inferior by virtue of might and technology, to force on them a specific idea of civilization the way one might force a foul tincture down a child's throat.
O Christendom! That which you once were, braving the dens of lions through conviction of righteousness, the young army of peace and rebellion in the face of domination. When didst thou become that face?
How many of those kings of men have lived among the Maghreb or even tasted the shores of Africa? How many sovereigns dared to ever even enter a mosque of the Mussulman and understand the man they were told to despise? How many learnt the tongues of their conquered? I tell you the one that bested them all did so. He did so with such the care and open-mindedness of a true and noble Christian of the oldest ways, such was his providence he was not only led to victory but returned to glory in his moment of crisis, the triumph of catastrophe embodied in flesh. A second Jeanne for France! He only fell in the end to his pride, and his trust in the untrustworthy.
I must be wary of deadly pride, and determine which names I can trust. Then the fall will be a surprise. I imagine one dies well knowing one was a challenge to best.
February 12
The Greeks have abandoned us in our struggle to fight the Muslim horde alone. Well enough, we hardly require their help.
March 18
The schematics have reached the point of production and our naval bases in Tunisia and Campania are producing the first line of our new magnificent fleet. May Her Majesty's Navy itself fear to entice it.
A new, far more reliable Grand Admiral now commands our fleet.
March 25
We won a major victory east of the city of Cairo, the capital of Egypt. We occupy more of their territory, the war draws ever closer to conclusion. Let it come soon.
April 19
Horrible news, an occupation force was routed from the city of Fayyum by an even larger Egyptian army. Thirty-thousand fresh troops are sailing to Egypt as I write.
August 10
It's time to upgrade our soldiers' weapons, clearly the ones they have aren't doing the job well enough.
Their training will be modified as well in accordance with new principles of warfare picked up from our Egyptian endeavor.
August 11
France has acquired Barcelona and the surrounding Catalan area as a state of France. The proud legacy of Leon-Castille has truly come to a stop in the dirt.
September 9
We have been nearly two years at war. It grows wearisome.
The Egyptians were not the tattered mess they were expected to be. A massive army camps south of the Nile waiting for our guard to fall. If they decide to attack when we aren't prepared, we'll have lost this war.
October 1
The Egyptians attacked south of Cairo. We sent reinforcements in time to win but sustained heavy casualties. We are not reinforcing our regiments fast enough to withstand such assaults.
October 14
Spies report Spain has promulgated a new federal police agency designed to root out Carlist sympathizers. No doubt an effort to build back prestige, it's so typical of Spain to sponsor an Inquisition.
October 20
Blast it all, the blessed spuds are blighted! Those new potato gnocchi are just heavenly and I can't imagine life without them. Let whosoever brought this curse to our land be smitten.
November 2
The Turks ended their war with Egypt before holding a position to demand full control of Judea. There can be only two reasons. Either the Ottomans expect the Papal States to fail in taking Jerusalem in this war, or they know that we will, and are hoping to secure a land border with us for easier warfare. I expect the second. They want us to claim the Holy Land so that they can 'liberate' it from us in the name of Islam and humiliate Christianity, and they think we'll be an easier fight than the Egyptians.
They think us fools. All we need do is secure the allegiance of Austria. Then we will enter the Ottoman trap, knowing it is there. And when they come to spring it, we will humiliate them from therein.
December 28
News from Holland. The Dutch royals have fled the land to Great Britain. The Netherlands are now controlled by a cadre of wealthy conservative Dutch nationalists. Heaven help them.
December 31
Commander Sheb reports the return of Giuseppe Garibaldi to Italy. Already he levies an army in the name of a united Italian republic, and I suspect he is hiding in San Marino.
He is NOT supposed to be here yet! Has he betrayed the Order? I must get out word.
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