Because of the secret of the previous grain harvest, Marin and his father-in-law, Archbishop Rovere, had a very unpleasant quarrel. After all, although the two attendants were not the top confidantes of Archbishop Rovere, they were very close to him. It is said that both of them are descendants of former old friends of Archbishop Rovere.
Therefore, Marin did not kill the two of them, but arranged them to be monitored in a remote manor, and they were not allowed to leave the manor.
Moreover, Marin knew that doing so would make Archbishop Rovere dissatisfied with him. I have to rely on this father-in-law in the future. Therefore, Marin decided to repair the relationship between the two parties...
As for how to fix it? Marin thought about it, but couldn't figure it out for the time being. But when he occasionally saw the straight guards all over the palace, Marin was inspired.
Marin suddenly remembered that his father-in-law of the "Pope of War" seemed to be the founder of the famous "Pope's Guard".
Obviously, Archbishop Rovere is very interested in having force. In the future, he will create the Papal Guard, which is mainly Swiss.
But Marin and the Swiss didn't deal with each other, and naturally they didn't want to see the Swiss get the honor of defending Rome. In addition, he now wants to please his father-in-law, so Marin decided to help his father-in-law form the Pope's guard in advance!
Archbishop Rovere is very embarrassed right now. He and dozens of loyal followers are hiding in a remote compound on the East Frisian Islands. There are few people on the island, no farmland, only a small fishing village, and some herdsmen grazing sheep.
It can be said that the current Archbishop Rovere is in a miserable situation and has no face to speak of. Marin helped him form the Pope's Guard in advance, not only to ensure his safety, but also to help him improve his face.
Of course, Archbishop Rovere is not yet the Pope, so naturally he cannot publicly claim to be the Pope's Guard. However, in Marin's private letter to Archbishop Rovere, it directly stated that this is to form the Pope's guard in advance for you...
Archbishop Rovere was really interested, and he deserved the title of the future "Pope of War". After receiving the letter from Marin, he replied quickly, urging Marin to form a "Pope Guard" quickly.
Ever since, Marin began to select honest and brave soldiers in his own army...
Marin was selected according to the size of the later Vatican Pope's Guard, and only planned to select 100 fighters and low-level commanders. As for the officers, the Archbishop Rovere must have appointed them himself.
Moreover, even if Archbishop Rovere wanted senior officers, Marin might not be willing to give them. After all, Marin himself is short of officers.
This way, the selection is easy. Anyway, it's easy to just ask to be honest and brave. Soldiers who have never retreated and fought forward in previous wars are eligible.
In addition, in terms of staffing, Marin tried his best to select members from the territory of East Frisia. After all, this army is also one of the bonds between himself and the Pope's father-in-law in the future. Naturally, it is best to put the mark of East Frisia. Therefore, when selecting people, among the 100 fighters, Marin selected 50 local fighters from East Frisia.
These fighters are all honest and brave, and there is no problem with their moral character. Moreover, their family members now all live in manors in the territory of East Frisia. So, don't worry about their betrayal. Unless, they are willing to watch their relatives be executed.
Then, although these 100 warriors are inferior in martial arts to those apprentice knights from knight families. But after staying in the Marlin Army for a long time, everyone obeyed orders very much and had strict discipline.
In addition, Marin also "designed" uniforms for this future "Pope Guard"...
In fact, the so-called "designed" uniforms of Marin were exactly the same as the uniforms of the Vatican Pope's Guard later, all of which were blue and orange striped costumes. In addition, they all wore two-thirds breastplates and helmets.
The blue-orange strip suit needs to be customized, but two-thirds of the breastplate is in stock. However, none of the breastplates in Marin's hands had been polished, and they were not as bright as the breastplates worn by the later Pope's guard. Also, the helmet styles are different.
Because, the helmets worn by Marin's subordinates do not have those cherry beards used for ceremonial guards, nor do they have wide brims, and are more practical. However, as the guard of the future pope, there are actually very few battles. Therefore, the aesthetics of clothing is more important than practicality.
Therefore, Marin drew a Spanish-style boat-shaped helmet with a wide brim for the Pope's guard, and asked a craftsman to make it. Of course, the top of the hat is also to be added with a red cherry whisker.
When Marin invited Archbishop Rovere to visit his "Popal Guard", Archbishop Rovere was indeed very satisfied to see 100 strong men with strict discipline and well-dressed clothes.
After all, Archbishop Rovere doesn't have any guards around him now, and he really needs an armed force to protect him. After all, Archbishop Rovere's political opponent, Alexander VI, had installed many cronies throughout Italy during his years as Pope.
Even if Alexander VI is dead and Archbishop Rovere returns to Italy, it is very likely that he will be counterattacked by Alexander VI's best friend before his death. At that time, the assassination will not escape. After all, the Borgia family is best at this.
Although these 100 strong men cannot withstand a large-scale army, there is no problem in protecting Archbishop Rovere from being assassinated. After all, that's 100 meat shields. It doesn't matter whether you assassinate with a crossbow or with a musket. If you want to assassinate Archbishop Rovere, you must first penetrate these 100 meat shields. Moreover, these 100 people are all veterans who have come down from the battlefield, and the counterattack is also very sharp. It's not enough to see the assassin in front of them.
When the uniform uniforms and helmets sent by Marin are fully equipped, the Pope's guard looks more personable. This made Archbishop Rovere look more satisfied.
After inspecting the well-dressed future Pope's guard, Archbishop Rovere suddenly made a request, which caught Marin by surprise...
"What, you want to hire mercenaries from my Blackwater Company?" Marin was a little stunned... Could it be that the father-in-law wants to be tough and just call back to Rome
"Don't think about it, I don't want it now, but after I ascend the position of Pope..." Archbishop Rovere saw Marin's surprise and explained.
"It's all done, why do you still need mercenaries?" Marin was a little puzzled. Before becoming Pope, it was understandable to find mercenaries to cheer. They are all successful, just form an army by yourself, why do you need mercenaries
"No, Marin, you don't understand. You have participated in the Italian war, you should know the combat effectiveness of Italian mercenaries?"
Marin nodded, of course he knew, the Italian mercenaries are a group of troops who like to pick up girls, like to drink, and are not very reliable at critical moments. At least, German mercenaries are much braver than them.
"That's it. I don't really trust those native Italian mercenaries. The most important thing is that the Papal State's army is not completely controlled by the Holy See..." Archbishop Rovere revealed a secret.
"How do you say that?" Marin asked curiously.
"In fact, although the Papal State is not small, there are actually many nobles in it. The Holy See really controls only Rome and some nearby areas. Many other areas are controlled by local nobles. All the troops of the Papal State, in fact They are also secretly controlled by those local nobles..."
Archbishop Rovere revealed many secrets about the Papal State. In fact, the Papal State is not a centralized country, but a political alliance. A ruling alliance formed by the monks of the Holy See and the local powerful nobles.
Generally speaking, the Holy See holds the religious power and some political rights of the Papal State. And those nobles in the Pope's country control military power and share political power with the Holy See.
Moreover, the Pope of Rome is often born from the aristocratic groups within the Papal State. Therefore, even the Holy See has nothing to do with these great nobles who have been passed down for a long time.
What Archbishop Rovere meant was actually to form a trusted army after he ascended the throne, start anew and go it alone, throwing away the army of the local nobles.
In fact, the local troops of the Papal State are actually useless. When facing the French army, these cowards were all scared away, and they didn't dare to resist at all.
After seeing the combat effectiveness of his son-in-law's army and the city of Blackwater Company, Archbishop Rovere suddenly had the idea of hiring his son-in-law's army.
In his plan, Marin's mercenaries will assist him to take back the military power of the local nobles, and then gradually take back the secular power of the Papal State, making the Papal State a truly centralized state, and all power is returned to the Pope. Then, the pope used his own army to unify the whole of Italy...
Moreover, after Archbishop Rovere came to power, he planned to be the first to attack Florence on the edge of the Papal State. Because Florence has been in a state of chaos without a master since the fall of the Medici family. Although it is apparently protected by France, the French will not send people to guard here every day. Moreover, if the Papal State takes action, it is not easy for the French to object explicitly. Because the rights and interests of the French in Italy also need to be recognized by the Holy See.
Moreover, Florence's territory is so large, and its business is more prosperous than Rome. Therefore, winning Florence will not only greatly increase the territory of the Papal State, but also increase a lot of tax revenue.
"So, what benefits can I get?" Marin thought for a while and asked.
There is no problem with sending troops by yourself, but the problem is that sending troops in vain is not Marin's style...
"The Bishop of Munster..."
Marin immediately understood that if he sent troops to help the Holy See take down Florence, then he would be considered a meritorious service for the Holy See. At that time, Archbishop Rovere, who has ascended to the position of Pope, will have reason to reward himself with the Bishop of Münster.
In this way, the Holy See and Marin can be regarded as a win-win situation...
After all, the Holy See has expanded its territory and taxes, and Marin can more than double its territory. In fact, although the Bishop of Münster nominally belongs to the Holy See, it is actually under the indirect control of the Archbishop of Cologne. Therefore, for the Bishop of Münster, the Holy See will not benefit much. At most, when the bishop of Münster changes, the Holy See has the power to approve the successor. Even so, the candidate for the bishop of the Bishop of Münster was actually recommended by the Archbishop of Cologne, and the Holy See only had the right to approve, not directly appoint. In this case, it is better to give Marin the Bishop of Münster, and let Marin work hard to win a large piece of Florence for the Holy See without spending a penny.
You know, Florence is the capital of the Italian Renaissance and an important commercial city, so don't be too oily. For the Holy See, exchanging a remote and uncontrollable episcopal state for Florence would definitely make a lot of money.
Similarly, for Marin, getting the Bishop of Munster is also a big profit. Because the area of the Bishop of Münster is close to 6,000 square kilometers, which is almost twice the size of the Counties of East Frisia.
The most important thing is that the southernmost part of the Bishop of Münster happens to be in the Ruhr area, where there are many coal fields...
Therefore, for Marin, obtaining the Bishop of Munster is simply a fortune...
This deal is a win-win for both the Holy See and Marin. The only one whose interests were damaged was the Archbishop of Cologne.
However, the Archbishop of Cologne cannot be hard-pressed with the Holy See. Because the appointment of the Archbishop of Cologne requires the approval of the Holy See. Moreover, the archbishops of these archbishop countries are actually representatives of the interests of various noble families. Many archbishops in Germany are either the non-eldest sons of princes and great nobles, or the illegitimate children of great nobles. At that time, as long as the family that Herman IV belongs to is satisfied with the exchange chip, he can make him nod in agreement. After all, the Bishop of Münster does not directly belong to the Archbishop of Cologne, but indirectly.
Therefore, the one who lost power in the end was actually Conrad III, the bishop of Münster. But who cares? After all, Conrad III only came from a small family—the Rietberg family. Although the Rietberg family also controls an earl country, this earl country is only a few hundred square kilometers. It is considered a small earl country and has no strength at all. No one cares about their wishes...
Of course, Marin could imagine that Conrad III might resist him at that time, and even the Saxons and the Earl of Oldenburg would try to prevent it from expanding its territory. Therefore, Marin still needs to strengthen its own strength to deal with the possible joint counterattack of the three countries...