"If it were the Earl, what would he do at this time?"
"Such a large sum of money, I agree, why not?
If I were him, I would definitely go back and persuade the Roman Emperor. "
Otto immediately expressed his thoughts after hearing Bishop Valens tell him this story.
"This is a good thing. Anyway, the Western Roman Empire has been destroyed for so long. If the king of Italy canonized as Augustus, doesn't it mean that the Roman Empire can re-expand its influence to the entire Italy?
When was the last time Roman influence returned to Italy?
This was a win-win situation. The King of Italy gained the title of emperor that he longed for, and the Roman Empire regained its influence over Italy. Maybe it would be able to rule Italy again in the future.
The general and the Roman Emperor of Constantinople should have agreed. "
"No, no." Bishop Valens shook his head and looked at Otto with a complicated expression. Only then did he realize that in Otto's eyes, there was no fear of legal principles and authority, only Hongguoguo's exchange of interests.
That was the position of emperor of Rome. Even Charlemagne coveted the title. In Otto's eyes, it seemed that it was a bargaining chip.
"The general did not make the same choice as the Count. As the Roman Emperor's most trusted general, he felt insulted and almost went to war with the Italian King on the spot.
If it weren't for the dissuasion of many nobles, the two sides might actually start fighting. "
"What about the Roman Emperor? Was he so angry that he directly went to war with the Kingdom of Italy?" Otto asked.
“It was rumored that His Majesty the Emperor really planned to recognize him as Augustus because of the gift from the King of Italy, but he was opposed by many nobles and important ministers in Rome.
Finally, under pressure, the Roman emperor severed his alliance with the Kingdom of Italy and stated that he would cut off commercial ties between the two parties and prohibit all merchants from transporting their supplies to the Kingdom of Italy.
When the news reached Milan, it was said that the Italian king was so angry that he almost declared war on Constantinople. What a farce. "Bishop Valens said eloquently.
"The Bishop came to Eagle Castle in person, presumably not just to tell me the news, right? I can't get involved in a fight of this level." Otto continued to press.
"Hahaha, I can't hide anything from your lordship." Bishop Valens was not embarrassed, but laughed.
"I came here this time to prepare for the baptism of the Earl's soon-to-be-born child. Secondly, the news just now is related to the Earl."
"Is it related?" Otto narrowed his eyes slightly. He was a little confused. He couldn't interfere in this kind of thing between the king and the emperor. He could only listen to it for fun.
Bishop Valens drank tea with a smile and said nothing.
Otto thought for a while and remembered the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire in history. Wasn't it because they couldn't get the recognition of the Eastern Roman emperors that they went to the church to be crowned.
Could it be that this Italian king wanted to do the old deeds of HRE hundreds of years in advance?
"The king of Italy seeks a church coronation?" Otto said tentatively.
"Ah?" Bishop Valens showed an unexpected expression. He really didn't expect Otto to guess it.
"Your Majesty the Earl is so smart. He was able to think of this on his own. It's really admirable." Bishop Valens praised from the bottom of his heart.
It's not that I'm too smart, it's just that I know this kind of thing, and the clues are so obvious, it's easy to guess. You, a member of the church, come to my house and have nothing to do except church matters. I can't even guess that, so wouldn't I be a fool?
"So, what does this have to do with me?" Otto curled his lips and asked.
Seeing Otto like this, Bishop Valens began to explain.
Otto also reviewed the subtle historical changes in the world with Bishop Valens.
For example, since the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the masters of Constantinople in the Eastern Roman Empire have not been stingy in rewarding those barbarians with official positions, especially when they were unable to defeat them.
Among them, the most top honor is undoubtedly the guardian of the Roman people.
This is almost the highest honor that the emperor of Constantinople can give except Caesar and Augustus.
During the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, many barbarians converted to Roman polytheism and had a certain degree of reverence for the church. Therefore, the power of the church that once helped the Roman Empire rule at the grassroots level was not only not affected, but grew.
At the same time, because Eastern Rome once tried to restore the territory of the Roman Empire under the leadership of several brave emperors, it deterred the barbarians in the west with its strong strength and proud achievements, and maintained a good relationship with the Roman church. There were many people on both sides. Cooperate.
For example, the Archbishop of Constantinople and Thrace are often the prerequisites for becoming the Purple Archbishop, and these two bishops need to be recognized by the emperor before they can serve.
Of course, although the emperor could nominally appoint and remove bishops, he basically did not interfere with the self-election of the church. But the church is also very sensible. In the land of Eastern Rome, the church can safely act as a subsidiary of administrative officials and play the role of a green leaf.
It is precisely because the church in Rome has a good relationship with the emperor of Constantinople that there is a certain tacit understanding between the two parties. Therefore, even if the Western Roman Empire perished, Rome and the Holy See still had great influence on the barbarians in many cases, and could even sometimes order them.
Even now, the Eastern Roman Empire has begun to decline, but the barbarians still respect the Roman emperor and the church.
As powerful as Charlemagne, who created the unprecedentedly powerful Frankish Kingdom, he wanted to shamelessly ask for the title of Augustus. After being rejected by the emperor, he could only acquiesce with the title of Guardian of the Roman People, but he still didn't dare. Challenging the authority and order that Rome and the Church had worked together to establish over the years.
But now, due to the increasingly serious factional strife within the church and the weakening strength of the Roman Empire, there are disagreements within the Holy See about whether to continue to maintain such a semi-subordinate relationship with the emperor.
Although since the establishment of the Roman Empire, the church has relied on the emperor's patronage and support to become what it is today.
In particular, the rise of a certain monotheistic religion once threatened the dominance of Roman polytheism. It was only through the powerful strangulation of several emperors and the internal reforms of the church that the monotheistic religion was suppressed.
But now, the Emperor of Constantinople is becoming increasingly useless to the current church. The orders of the Emperor of Constantinople cannot even enter the city of Rome.
A Roman emperor without Rome is such a joke.
In addition, the emperor can nominally lead the entire church and has the qualifications to depose the purple archbishop. How can the church not be worried?
Even though the emperor has used this power only a handful of times in history, these purple-clad archbishops do not want anyone to really threaten their status.
There have always been voices within the church calling for the abolition of the emperor's power to remove the purple archbishop. However, the Holy See has not formed a mainstream considering that the emperor's strength is still there and the tacit cooperation between the two parties.
Now that the king of Italy was seeking to be crowned by the church, these people undoubtedly saw an opportunity and a glimmer of freedom from the influence of the emperor.
Within the church, many people wanted to take this opportunity to change the status of the Holy See to the same as that of the emperor, so that they would no longer be controlled by the emperor.
