King of Mercenaries

Chapter 176: Successfully canonized

Views:

Even if Marin understands what happened in Switzerland, he can't intervene right now, mainly because he doesn't have the ability. In fact, as a lord, Marin also disliked the existence of Switzerland.

It's not that Marin has enmity with the Swiss, but that Switzerland's political system is very different from other countries. The current Swiss Confederation is made up of about 10 states. And each state seems to have a lot of autonomy. This is a bit like the federation of later generations, or it should be said that the federation of later generations like the old United States actually learned from Switzerland.

In each canton of Switzerland, a democratic system similar to that of the ancient Greek city-states is implemented. Therefore, Switzerland is the source of modern democracy. Later, the Republic of the Seven Provinces of the Netherlands actually learned from Switzerland.

And, decades later, a terrible Protestantism was born in Switzerland - Calvinism...

Calvinism may be nothing to ordinary people, but it is really terrible to nobles...

Because, Calvinism advocates equality and decentralization of power. Perhaps, this is indeed a progressive sect. However, "the ass determines the head", Marin has become a nobleman, and will become a great nobleman in the future. Then, Marin's position is naturally opposed to the Swiss federal democratic system.

The reason why Calvinism developed in Switzerland was not Calvin’s own independent invention, but the various teachings he summed up based on the current experience of the Swiss city-state democratic system.

From the day Calvinism was born, it has been fighting against the nobles. Calvinism spread to the Netherlands, and the Dutch rose up, overthrew the rule of the Habsburg family, and established a republic without a king; Calvinism spread to France, known as the Huguenots. The Huguenots also set off huge waves in France, and fought desperately against Catholicism, which led to the bloody French Civil War.

When Calvinism spread to England, it first created the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, and then spread it to England. The British Calvinists are called "Puritans", and they are a faction that are keen to rebel and hack the king to death. It was Cromwell, the leader of this faction, who beheaded King Charles I...

The French Revolution, the Huguenots of the French branch of Calvinism, were also important promoters. Louis XVI was not a bad guy, but he was still beheaded by the Huguenots...

So, all in all, Calvinism is a sect that is very keen on rebellion, very keen on hacking kings and nobles to death...

Facing such a sect, Marin certainly wanted to destroy it. However, Calvin, the founder of the sect, was not yet born. Moreover, Marin was also worried that even if Calvin was killed, it would not be able to prevent the birth of another new sect similar to Calvinism.

Because Calvinism just summed up the political way of life in Switzerland, and then spread it to other parts of Europe, triggering various revolutions...

Therefore, as long as a federal system like Switzerland exists, it will be difficult to avoid the birth of a "king-cutting faction" like Calvinism.

As a great lord now, Marin may be a king or something in the future, and he is very disgusted with such a sect. But to prevent the emergence of such sects, the most fundamental way is to destroy the Swiss Confederation and return Switzerland to the "order" ruled by the aristocracy.

However, the Swiss are very strong, and it is estimated that they can mobilize 30,000 to 40,000 spearmen. Because, Switzerland has always had a tradition of serving as soldiers. Therefore, although the population of Switzerland is less than one million, there are really many mercenaries. Just when King Charles VIII of France recruited Swiss mercenaries, 25,000 people went at once, far exceeding the recruitment requirements.

Therefore, in order to eradicate the "tumor" of the feudal era in Switzerland, Marin is at least not qualified, and must develop slowly. Only when you have strength can you help the emperor eliminate the Swiss Confederation.

Of course, those are things for later. Right now, what Marin has to do is to accompany the whole family to Markburg to watch Adler's knight conferring ceremony.

The whole family, escorted by a large cavalry, arrived at Fort Mark a few days later. And John II has long been waiting at the Markburg Palace.

As an ally, Marin naturally went in to visit John II, and then discussed how to help Grand Master Philip quickly gain a foothold in the Teutonic Knights and how to gain trade benefits in the Teutonic Knights.

Naturally, Marin talked eloquently, using various modern viewpoints to fool John II, a medieval native. Not only was John II full of emotion - such a talent, why can't he work for me

John II actually wanted to appoint Marin as his palace minister, because Marin not only knew how to train soldiers and fight wars, but also knew how to make money. The mere West Frisian Islands were able to spend nearly 100,000 gold coins to help Philip run for the post of Teutonic Grand Commander.

You must know that, as the ruler of the two great powers of the Principality of Cliff and the Earl of Mark, John II himself could not afford 100,000 gold coins. Let alone 100,000 gold coins, even taking out 50,000 gold coins is difficult.

Of course, it's not that these two vassal states don't have so much money, but that the spending of the two states is also astonishing. Even with so much fiscal revenue, the expenses are too high, and there is simply no way to have so much money left over.

But in this era, because of the huge expenses, many nobles actually really want to have a subordinate who can help them make a lot of money. In this way, they can also spend more happily and unrestrainedly...

However, Marin was destined to belong to Maximilian I. Moreover, he is still a lord of a dominion, and he is a toubob in the West Frisian Islands, so there is no need to go to a principality to be a palace minister. Speaking of the spare money in hand, Marin probably has more money than John II. Why would he serve a poor duke as his subordinate

However, John II was not stupid. Even if you can't win over Marin to serve you, you can still have a good relationship with Marin. Because Marin is a real talent. Maybe one day, I will be able to use it myself. And now, Marin has already helped Philip a lot. It is also very honorable for the Lamarck family to have a Teutonic Grand Commander. Therefore, the Lamarck family must accept this love.

Adler's promotion ceremony was solemn, but also very simple. There were quite a few people watching the ceremony, many of whom were nurses called by John II, and some friends of the Hoffman family.

The specific process is also simple, that is, Adler comes out first, and shows off his martial arts and riding skills alone like a monkey. Then, Earl Mark John II will send an inner knight from the court to fight Adler twice. A foot battle, a horse battle. If they all win, they will naturally be considered qualified, and then the canonization will be a matter of course...

Since John II was here to go through the motions, naturally he would not really embarrass Adler. Therefore, he sent a weaker inner palace knight to confront the tall and strong Adler. Moreover, this knight also released water...

In fact, even if it wasn't waterproof, the thin knight was no match for Adler. Therefore, Adler easily defeated the knight and successfully passed the assessment. Moreover, what Marin admired was that although the knight was releasing water, his expression was extremely serious and desperate, as if he had tried his best...

Not only did Marin secretly give the knight 120 likes, but his acting skills were amazing. If there is a TV movie now, this guy might be a star. Look at how desperate he was when he shot... look at how painful he was when he was hit-in fact, Adler didn't use much effort to avoid injuring his opponent...

However, this little brother was obviously just lightly rubbed by Adler, and he flew upside down for several meters in a daze, so as to let out a miserable scream... His expression seemed to be crushed by Tarzan of the ape. The people who don't know who eat melons are worried about him...

After the assessment of this kind of performance, John II personally issued the appointment document for Adler, signed it on the spot, and sent his cronies to help Adler cut off the tail of the swallowtail flag, symbolizing that Adler officially changed from a Apprentice knight, became an official knight master...

All the spectators at the scene stood up and applauded one after another, creating a peaceful atmosphere. Of course, there was no Zhao Ritian who jumped out like in TV dramas and yelled "I don't accept it"...

Then, John II also held a court reception, entertaining the Hoffman family and many guests who watched the ceremony...

After the reception, John II set off to return to the Principality of Cleaver where he often stayed, but before he left, he asked Prince Mark to send someone to follow the Hoffman family to the vicinity of the Hoffman Manor to confirm that a 500-year-old Graham's place, assigned to Adler as a sealed land...