People in the Middle Ages, draw cards to get promoted

Chapter 263 Introducing the Teutonic Knights
early morning.

In the garden of the Hebron mansion.

The spring water murmured.

Lothar was wearing loose linen clothes and holding a shining cross sword. Opposite him, Celinina was holding double blades with a solemn expression.

His footsteps moved slightly, as fast as thunder.

The flickering silver light seemed to split the air, and fell fiercely towards Celinina.

Blades collided.

There was a crisp metal crashing sound.

Celinina only defended but did not attack, and did not retreat an inch. Even though Lothar's offensive was as fast as a storm, she could not surpass her defense at all.

for a long time.

Panting heavily, Lothar took two steps back, turned the shining cross sword into a necklace, and tied it up.

He wiped his sweat with his hands, panting, "Stop hitting, Celinina, are you sure you've suppressed the speed to the same level as me?"

Celinina respectfully said, "Yes, my lord."

"That was really frustrating."

Lothar said helplessly.

Although the swordsmanship specialization that comes with the Shining Cross Sword is quite extraordinary, enough for Lothar to rely on it to earn the title of a sword master, it is still far behind Celinina's swordsmanship.

At this time, the maid with wheat-colored skin handed over the towel and said respectfully:
"My lord, there is a group of knights who claim to be the 'Knights of the German St. Mary's Hospital of Jerusalem' and want to be summoned by you."

Lothar was stunned for a moment before realizing that this should be the Teutonic Knights that had just been formally established.

Before that, they had always belonged to a loose hospital organization, not a formal religious order.

"What are the Teutonic Knights looking for me for?"

Lothar was a little surprised, because he had no contact with these Germanic knights before. In fact, he had hardly encountered these people in Jerusalem.

Compared with the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller, the Teutonic Knights started too shortly, and their forces were much weaker, and they were concentrated in the northern part of the kingdom.

"You don't want to ask me for alms, do you?"

Lothar was a little wary.

The Germanic people are poor. Compared with Gaul, which seems to be a place of choice and a thousand miles of fertile land, Germania is definitely a bad place-of course, bad is relative.

If we only talk about the area of ​​arable land, the real rotten land under the hands of his "tsar".

But if business and trade are counted, Lothar's territory will be far superior to the former.

This is why Emperor Henry attached so much importance to this era, because of the prosperity of the Mediterranean trade, the reason why the North Apennine city-state was very prosperous and developed.

He needs the purses of the Apennines.

Otherwise, as an emperor, he would not be as wealthy as the kings of Albion and Gaul.

Lothar simply wiped off his sweat, and ordered:

"Let them in."

Previously, when the Teutonic Knights had no Grand Master, he had the idea of ​​supporting Hans as the Grand Master of the Knights.

Not anymore.

He has the Order of St. Lazarus, and the people he cultivated by himself are definitely more obedient and better managed than the Teutonic Knights.

The Order of Saint Lazarus is now fully integrated into the administrative system of Lothar. Every territory in Lothar has doctors from the Order of Saint Lazarus.

Lothar changed his clothes and came to the living room.

Because the castle was once attacked, the dragon head stored there was also moved here and placed above his seat, with the Jerusalem cross and the double-headed eagle coat of arms hanging on both sides.

The Teutonic knights in white and black cross robes looked at Lothar, the lord who had been famous in the Holy Land recently, with awe.

"Lord Count."

Seeing Lothar's appearance, they saluted and greeted in unison.

Lothar waved his hands and frowned, "Hello, who should I talk to?"

A knight saluted Lothar very respectfully: "Good day, my lord Earl, I am Heberland from Bremen, and I am temporarily elected as the grand master of the Teutonic Knights."

At this time, there was no wing helmet or horn helmet like Hans wore, and the barrel helmet was the mainstream.

So from the looks of it, this Hebronland Grandmaster wore a white cloak more than his companions.

"Good day, Grand Master Hebronland, what would you like to talk to me about?"

Hiberlander showed bitterness: "My lord, you must also know that our Germanic knights have a difficult life in the Holy Land. Not only is the territory poor, but we are also squeezed out by the Gaul and Albion knights."

"Hasn't His Majesty the Emperor reconciled with His Majesty the Pope?"

Lothar didn't agree.

In the Holy Land, it is obvious that the Gaul faction is stronger, Renard of Châtillon, Baldwin IV of Anjou, and Count Raymond of Toulouse.

These were nobles from Gaul or Albion.

Strictly speaking, Albion also belongs to the Gaul family.

Although Richard the Lionheart of the Anjou family settled in London, he always believed that Gaul was his most important territory. In his court, French was the mainstream language.

As a latecomer, the Teutonic Knights would be excluded, partly because they still publicly declared their allegiance to Emperor Henry and were granted several northern Apennine fiefdoms.

Partly because, as latecomers, if they want to rise, they will inevitably touch the status of the Knights Hospitaller and the Knights Templar.

Although the former supported the younger brother of the Teutonic Knights and wanted them to help fight against the increasingly powerful Knights Templar, he had no intention of being equal to them.

Hibland looked gloomy: "Your Majesty, you should be very clear that although His Majesty originally reconciled with His Majesty the Pope, after he punished those rebellious Apennine city-states, the relationship between them became tense again. Even There are rumors that His Majesty the Pope is going to excommunicate His Majesty."

Lothar frowned: "Grandmaster Heberland, I don't care about the current situation in Europe, so let me tell you why you are here."

Hiberlander didn't hesitate any longer, and said bluntly: "Lord Earl, we hope to fight for you, as long as you are willing to promise us a place to live after the war."

Lothar felt a headache.

He had already reserved several territories before he set his hands on Rauf's territory.

Fortunately, the second sons of those great nobles can say that if they canonize them as imperial knights, they will be sealed out as soon as they are sealed up. If the meat rots in the pot, he will not lose money.

But the Teutonic Knights, as the master of one side of power, Lothar must not be able to canonize its grand master as his imperial knight.

Seeing Lothar frowning, he remained silent.

Hiberlander hurriedly said: "My lord, you have to believe that although our Germanic brothers are not equipped as well as those Gauls, they are definitely the bravest and most pious Christian fighters. We will be the sharpest spears and spears in your hands." The sword is for your use, to expand the territory and punish the heretics."

Lothar said casually: "In terms of bravery, my hussars are the most courageous and fearless knights in the Holy Land, and they are inferior to the two Knights of the Temple and the Hospital."

In this era, the Germanic people were not known for their bravery and combat skills.

It is generally believed that the martial arts of the Gallic knights are far more abundant than the ignorant and poor Germans, and the jokes of the milk method of later generations were worthy of the name during World War II.

Hiberland opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but couldn't speak.

Because before that, they also participated in the Northern Crusade led by Raymond, but they had no record at all.

Compared with the two major knight orders in the same industry, there is no advantage at all.

A look of pleading appeared on Hiberlander's face: "Our territory in Acre is barren and small, and it simply cannot accommodate our more and more Germanic brothers."

"My lord, for the sake of our fellow Germanic brothers, we are fed up with being crowded out in battle, and even the military flags are thrown on the ground by the Gauls and trampled on the ground, and the wounded brothers have maggots in their wounds, There will be no more days to get medical treatment."

Lothar was silent for a long time, and finally said: "It's true, I don't mind accepting you, but Grandmaster Heberland, you have to tell me, what kind of status are you staying in my territory?"

"If it's just mercenaries, I have to pay a fief."

"I'm sorry, but I can't accept it."

Hiberland was startled slightly, and then realized that Lothar's question was pointing to the core of everything.

The Teutonic Knights are still nominally loyal to Emperor Henry.

Moreover, they are also seeking to obtain the status of the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller, which belong directly to His Majesty the Pope, are tax-free, and can be called a state within a state.

In other words, after they acquire the territory, they will not become Lothar's vassals, nor will they need to fulfill any feudal obligations.

"This is the crux of the matter, Commander Hebronlander, I don't need a mercenary group for the time being, because my enemies have been weakened to the point where I can easily destroy them anytime I want."

"Unless you are willing to join me in attacking Egypt in the future, but at that time, it is bound to be an extremely difficult war with a disparity between the enemy and us."

Lothar paused slightly: "Can you wait?"

Hiberland was silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Sorry, my lord, if we wait until then, the congregation may have already been forced to disband due to poverty."

"Therefore, neither of us can accept such a condition, Grand Master Hebronland."

The Teutonic knights who surrounded Heberland were a little bit upset.

"Lord Earl, this is for the sacred cause of the heavenly father. You were once a vassal of His Majesty. Shouldn't you contribute your strength for His Majesty and the Germanic brothers?"

Lothar sneered and said, "I have hit a lot more heretics than you, and I am now a vassal of His Majesty Baldwin."

Someone couldn't hold back the anger in his heart, and said: "Count Lothar, thanks to I heard that you have a reputation as a generous man, I didn't expect you to be so stingy. Could it be that you have stayed in this city for a long time and your blood is stained with blood? the Jew's stinginess?"

Hiberlander's face changed greatly when he heard the words: "Shut up, bastard."

Lothar laughed softly: "Knight, before you speak, I hope you can consider the consequences and the price of offending a frontier earl."

He put away his smile, and the majesty in his eyes made the knight seem to see a giant dragon. He took several steps back and sat down on the ground.

"Otherwise, I don't mind ordering my bodyguard to throw her gloves at you."

behind the curtain.

Celinina's figure appeared like a ghost, and the two swords were unsheathed with a clang, and they were pressed against the throat of the swearer.

Hiberlander took an angry look at this idiot who spoke rudely, and said respectfully: "Please forgive our offense."

Lothar waved his hand, lacking in interest.

"Grandmaster Hebronlander, my bottom line is that I will be the highest officer of the Teutonic Knights, that is, the position of Grandmaster. You will become the commander and swear allegiance to me, otherwise, I cannot accept it." your request."

Grandmaster Hiberland was silent for a while before replying, "We need time to think about it."

Lothar stretched out an arm, and said in a deep voice: "Please go ahead, I am waiting for your arrival anytime."

"May Heavenly Father bless you, Great Protector of the Holy Land."

"May Heavenly Father bless you too, holy order knights."

Lothar looked at Hiberland's back with a sneer on his face.

The Hungarians introduced the help of the Teutonic Knights to fight against the Cumans. The cooperation between the two parties quickly broke down because the Teutonic Knights wanted to establish a country within a country in Hungary.

The Poles introduced the Teutonic Knights and wanted to use this to deal with heretics. They also led wolves into the house. This is how the "Teutonic Knights" and even the later Kingdom of Prussia came into being.

The stalk of "no waves" originated from the three countries of Prussia, Austria, and Russia that divided Poland.

Although the current scale and military strength of the Teutonic Knights are higher than that of the Saint Lazarus Order, that is because the latter was established too late.

Leave time.

Lothar believed that the Order of the Redemption of Saint Lazarus would definitely be no worse than the Teutonic Knights.

(End of this chapter)