Court of the County-Electorate of Rhein Pfalz

[Txini]

Court of the County-Electorate of Rhein Pfalz

History of Pfalz

The Palatinate arose as the County Palatine of the Rhine, a large feudal state lying on both banks of the Rhine, which seems to have come into existence in the 10th century. The territory fell to the Wittelsbach Dukes of Bavaria in the early 13th century, and during a later division of territory among one of the heirs of Duke Louis II of Upper Bavaria in 1294, the elder branch of the Wittelsbachs came into possession not only of the Rhenish Palatinate, but also of that part of Upper Bavaria itself which was north of the Danube, and which came to be called the Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz), in contrast to the Lower Palatinate along the Rhine. In the Golden Bull of 1356, the Palatinate was made one of the secular electorates, and given the hereditary offices of Archsteward of the Empire and Imperial Vicar of the western half of Germany. From this time forth, the Count Palatine of the Rhine was usually known as the Elector Palatine.

Heidelberg, Court of the Count-Elector of Rhein Pfalz

Heidelberg lies on the river Neckar at the point where the Neckar leaves its narrow, steep valley in the Odenwald hills to flow into the Rhine valley where, 20 kilometers northwest of Heidelberg it joins the Rhine at Mannheim. The old town, in German Altstadt, is long and narrow and is dominated by Heidelberg Castle which perches 200 metres above the Neckar on the steep wooded hill of the Königstuhl

Amberg, main city in Oberpfalz

The town was first mentioned in 1034, at that time under the name Ammenberg. It became an important trading centre in the Middle Ages, exporting mainly iron ore and iron products. In 1269 the town became together with Bamberg subordinate to the Wittelsbach dynasty, that ruled Bavaria. In 1329 the town and the entire Oberpfalz fell to a collateral line of the Wittelsbach family and was no longer part of Bavaria.

The Rulers of Pfalz

von Franken
Eberhard (926-939)

interregnum (939-945)

von Ezzon
Herman I (945-996)
Ezzo (996-1034)
Otto I (1035-1045)
Heinrich I Furiosus (1045-1060)
Herman II (1060-1085)

van Laach
Heinrich II (1085-1095)

van Limburg
Heinrich III (1095-1099)
Ludwig (1099-1105)

von Askanien
Siegfried (1095-1113)

von Kalw
Gottfried (1113-1129)

von Askanien
Wilhelm (1129-1139)

von Rheineck
Otto II (1140-1150)

Babenberg dynasty
Heinrich IV Jasomirgott (1139-1142)

von Stahleck
Herman III(1142-1155)

von Hohenstaufen
Konrad (1156-1195)

von Welf
Heinrich V (1195-1211)
Heinrich VI (1211-1214)

von Wittelsbach
Ludwig I (1214-1227)
Otto II (1227-1253)
Ludwig II (1253-1294)
Rudolf I (1294-1317)
Adolf (1317-1327)
Rudolf II der Blinde (1327-1353)
Ruprecht I der Rote (1353-?)

The Count-Elector and the Countess(No Countess currently) of Rhein Pfalz

[Txini]

The Wittlesbach Family of Pfalz

Count-Elector: Ruprecht I 'der Rote' von Wittelsbach
Born: 9th June 1309 in Wolfratshausen(73 years old)
Marriage: Elizabeth van Namur(1329-25th Nov 1382) during 1350
Father: Rudolf I von Wittelsbach(4th Oct 1274-12 Aug 1219) Oberbayern and Count-Elector of Pfalz um Rhein.
Mother: Mechtild van Nassau(1280-19th Apr 1316).
Desc: The third of the Child of Elector Rudolf von Wittlesbach, he became Count Elector of Rhein Pfalz at his brother's Count-Elector Rudolf II's death on 4th October 1353, Rudolf became elector in detriment of his nephew Ruprecht, son of Count Elector Adolf, his father's oldest surviving son.

Heir Apparent: Ruprecht von Wittelsbach
Born: 12th May 1325 in Amberg(57 years old)
Marriage: Beatrice d'Aragon(1326-12th Oct 1365) during 1346
Father: Adolf I von Wittelsbach(27th Sept 1300-29 Jan 1327) Count-Elector of Pfalz un Rhein.
Mother: Irmengard von Öttingen(1304-)
Desc: Son of Elector Adolf, lose his father at the age of 2, being so young his rights were surpassed and gotten by his uncle Rudolf, who became Rudolf II, at Rudolf's death his other uncle became Elector instead of him, but now there is only a thing between his rights and himself and that is death.

Count Palatine: Ruprecht 'Klem' von Wittelsbach
Born: 5th May 1352 in Amberg(30 years old)
Marriage: Elizabeth von Nürnberg(1358-) the 27h Apr 1374
Father: Ruprecht von Wittelsbach(12th May 1325-) Heir Apparent of County-Electorate of Pfalz un Rhein.
Mother: Beatrice d'Aragon(1326-12th Oct 1365)
Desc: Son of Ruprecht it is called to be one day the Count-Elector of Pfalz, but he has even greater intentions, to be one day the one who rules over the Empire.

Countess Palatine: Anna von Wittelsbach
Born: 1346(38 years old)
Marriage: Wilhelm VII von Jülich(1338-) during 1363. Duke of Jülich and Berg
Father: Ruprecht von Wittelsbach(12th May 1325-) Heir Apparent of County-Electorate of Pfalz un Rhein.
Mother: Beatrice d'Aragon(1326-12th Oct 1365)

Count Palatine: Ruprecht Pipan von Wittelsbach
Born: 20th Feb 1375(9 years old)
Father: Ruprecht 'Klem' von Wittelsbach(5th May 1332-)
Mother: Elizabeth von Nürnberg(1358-)

Count Palatine: Friedrich von Wittelsbach
Born: 1377(7 years old)
Father: Ruprecht 'Klem' von Wittelsbach(5th May 1332)
Mother: Elizabeth von Nürnberg(1358-)

Count Palatine: Ludwig von Wittelsbach
Born: 23rd Jan 1378(6 years old)
Father: Ruprecht 'Klem' von Wittelsbach(5th May 1332)
Mother: Elizabeth von Nürnberg(1358-)

Count Palatine: Johann von Wittelsbach
Born: Jun 1383(0 years old)
Father: Ruprecht 'Klem' von Wittelsbach(5th May 1332)
Mother: Elizabeth von Nürnberg(1358-)

Countess Palatine: Margarete von Wittelsbach
Born: 1376(8 years old)
Father: Ruprecht 'Klem' von Wittelsbach(5th May 1332)
Mother: Elizabeth von Nürnberg(1358-)

Countess Palatine: Agnes von Wittelsbach
Born: 1379(5 years old)
Father: Ruprecht 'Klem' von Wittelsbach(5th May 1332)
Mother: Elizabeth von Nürnberg(1358-)

Countess Palatine: Elizabeth von Wittelsbach
Born: 27th October 1381(2 year old)
Father: Ruprecht 'Klem' von Wittelsbach(5th May 1332)
Mother: Elizabeth von Nürnberg(1358-)

the Count-Elector of Rhein Pfalz

the Heir Apparent

Count Palatine Ruprecht 'Klem', his Wife and his sister Duchess Anna

Count Palatine Ruprecht Klem's children

Countess-Widow Irmengard, Mother of Heir Apparent Ruprecht

[Txini]

The Court of Pfalz

FACTIONS

Usurper Faction:
Leader: Ruprecht I 'der Rote', Count-Elector of Rhein Pfalz
Neutral in Papacy Issue
Neutral over Hansa
Neutral on Bavarian Issue
Recognizes Wenceslaus as Holy Roman Emperor
Neutral Relations with France
Neutral in Sicilian Issue
Support -> 45%

Legitimist Faction:
Leader -> Ruprecht Heir Apparent of Rhein Pfalz
Neutral in Papacy Issue
Untrusts Hansa
Recognizes Stefan III as Duke of All Bavaria and Albrecht as Count of Holland, Hainault and Zeeland
Recognizes Wenceslaus as Holy Roman Emperor
Neutral Relations with France
Support Maria de Aragon as Queen of Sicily
Support -> 30%

Imperial Faction:
Leader -> Ruprecht 'Klem' Count Palatine of Pfalz(Rep: Ludwig Heinzelder)
Neutral in Papacy Issue
Supportive about Hansa
Recognized Bavarian Splitted Situation but doesn't recognize Albrecht as Duke of Bavaria, but recognized him as Count of Holland, Hainault and Zeeland
Recognizes Wenceslaus as Holy Roman Emperor
Low Relations with France
Support Maria de Aragon as Queen of Sicily
Support -> 25%

[Txini]

Territories, Diplomacy and Armies of Pfalz

The Lands of the Count Elector of Rhein Pfalz

Province: Pfalz
Main City: Heidelberg
Culture: German
Religion: Catholic
Income: 4


Province: Nassau
Main City: Wiesbaden
Culture: German
Religion: Catholic
Income: 3


Province: Oberpfalz
Main City: Amberg
Culture: German
Religion: Catholic
Income: 3

Diplomacy of the Count-Elector of Rhein Pfalz

Embassadors in Heidelberg:
None - No Realm

Embassadors from the Count-Elector:
None - No Realm

Alliances:
None - No Realms

Trade Agreements:
None

Wars:
None

Claims of the Count-Elector:
Duke of Bayern - Inactive
Count of Straubing - Inactive
Count of Münich - Inactive
Count of Landshut - Inactive

Stats of the County-Electorate of Rhein Pfalz

Army -> 2[2]
Navy -> 0[0]
Tech -> 9[9]
Morale -> 10[10]
Economy -> 3[3]

[Txini]

Sounds of Mourn reaches the streets of Heidelberg, priests all over the Palatine Land where reaching Heidelberg Castle, the Home of the Count-Elector, people started to worry as they had no more info than what they could see, rumours started to move along the city talking about the death of the Sovereign Count-Elector, others thought Countess Palatine Elizabeth von Nürnberg could have been the victim of death, as althought she was energical woman, her pregnancy could be a cause of problems for her health, none feared about Countess-Widow Irmengard who had survived already to her husband, her brother-in-law, a daughter and a pair of grandchilds, she was near 80 years old, and some people thought she would never die, the rumours started to become fluent and clear when some people could see Count Palatine and Heir aparente Ruprecht to come back from his hunt with a half smile, so it was not his daughter in law nor one of his grandchilds, neither could be his mother Countess Irmengard, it was for sure a member of the countal pair. Some hours later there was an announcement from Heidelberg Castle to all Palatine people:

Today 25th of November 1382, our great and beloved Countess Elizabeth van Namur was called by Our Lord Jesuchrist to participate of His Death and Resurrection. The Count Elector Ruprecht I ask his people to pray for her soul, and indicates all noble families of his lands and of the Empire that her funeral will be the 9th of December, in Palatine Cathredal in Worms and later buried in Countal Panteon in Neustadt a.d.Hart

Countess Elizabeth van Namur

(ooc: Court Open)

[Txini]

Time has reached for the Deceased Countess to have her funeral and burial, presently in the Cathedral of Worms were his widow Count-Elector Ruprecht 'der Rote', the Heir Apparent Ruprecht with his mother Countess-Widow Irmengard, and Count-Palatine Ruprecht and his sister Duchess Anna who came from Berg, Countess-Palatine Elizabeth von Nürnberg and her child with Ruprecht had started a travel to Amberg, where the Palatine Family will set up their residence, as Ruprecht known as 'Klem' had been selected by his granduncle to serve as Pfalzian Embassor in Bavaria, Bohemia and Nürnberg, and as Permanent Delegate of the Electorate in the Imperial Diet.

Bishop Hans von Mainhem directed the Holy Mass for Elizabeth's soul:

Milords and Miladies, we are here to remember our sister Isabella whom Our Lord has called to His Reign, may she be remembered as what she was, a faithfull wife and a beloved Countess, who was with his Husband in the difficult moments of his rules as well as in the best moments of the same. We shall pray Our Saviour as well to desire that he will guide our Count-Elector now that he hasn't her at his side anymore and that he grants him many more years of deserved rule over our lands.

Bishop Hans gave the bendition: In Nomini Patri et Filii et Sancti Spiritus

After that the Pfalzian Wittelsbach splitted their ways, Count-Elector Ruprecht continued with his deceased wife till she was finally buried. Count Palatine and Heir Aparent Ruprecht went with his mother Countess Irmengard to the new little palace she had made built for her in the same city of Worms, were she expected to live during all his live and that it would be long enough to see his son in the Electoral Chair. And Finally Ruprecht 'Klem' invested his friend Ludwig Heinzelder as the representant of the Imperial Faction in the Electoral Court always he is far from Heidelberg and after that departed to Praha to meet with His Most Catholic Majesty Wenceslaus.

[Txini]

News arrived from Little Ruprecht in Praha, the news came in form of a letter which had written on it:

Dear Father there is some strange guy, a representant od a simple markgraff who has received support by Emperor to wage war with our dearly relative Maria Queen of Sicilia, and I would like to know if we shall support openly her in support of our succesion rights and the honour of mother.
Your Beloved son Ruprecht.

Heir Ruprecht then started a debate:

Uncle, members of the Court of Pfalz, My loved son Ruprecht has just sent a letter from Praha with dark news, it seems the Markgraff of Meissen wants to usurp the throne of Sicily from my niece Maria, daughter of my deceased brother in Law Federigo and as so a member of my deceased Wife Family to whom we have eternal friendship, and as so is my determination and that of my son that we should help her gently to defend his crown, is even worst than this usurper got personal support by the Emperor but as is a personal move we have the right to choose side and help those who are near to us.

Count-Elector Ruprecht from his throne said:

They are in fact not good news, but we shall not go to war with other Prince of the Empire and would be better not to upset the Emperor, we have to choose what is more interesting for us to be neutral so whoever wins we will get same result. And so I would say we shall mantain our neutrality in the issue.

Luwig Heinzelder stood up and said:

Is our intention in name of my friend and agraviated son and succesor by the issue we are debating about to suggest something that would make us support the Sicilian cause without haveing to withdrawn our neutrality, and is an easy way, we should offer economical help to the Queen of Sicilians and at same time also command our decission to our brothers in Bavaria as this is the cause of the Family and also to Jülich as our always reminded Duchess and Countess Palatine Anna should as well be upset of the insults to his mother's family and would also like to defend her cousin against an usurper

The Count Palatine took again the turn and said:

Well, as I see there are divergences I call the Pfalzian Courts to vote and the most voted option will be considered that of the Palatinate

So after a pair of hours of neegotiations between the nobility the states were called and the representants of the Nobility, the ones of the Church and the ones of the peasants reached Heidelberg Castle.

The Nobility who mostly supported the Count-Elector voted to be neutral, the Church who mainly supported Little Ruprecht who they saw a very religious and clever man voted to support Queen Maria however was in the posibility of the State, and the Peasants, the more divided of the three staments finally and after much discussion decided by a few votes to cast their vote in supporting Maria but without militar intervention.

Count-Palatine Ruprecht watching his proposal was not succesful after all decided that finally he would sign the letters to the Bavarian Dukes, the Jülich Dukes and to Queen Maria showing their animical support and economical as well.

[Avernite]

A letter, carried by a man of trade who had accidentally had business in the Palatinate, arrives at Heidelberg.


Onto count-palatine Ruprecht von Wittelsbach, Prince-Elector of the Empire, Count-palatine of the Rhine,

It has come to my attention that the needs of the Prince-Elector and those of my cousin in Berg coincide on the matters of the Kingdom of Sicily. Know then, that I have granted support to your daughter, the Duchess of Berg, to aid in your attempt to support the rightfull Queen of Sicily. The funds that you requested are on their way to Berg, where the Duchess will transfer them to you to ensure they are spent on the right cause.

I would also offer you the service of the ports of the Duchy of Gelre if it were not so obviously useless to your endeavor. Please, accept the offering to your cause and ensure that no supporter of Meissen remains on Sicily.

With the utmost respect,
Wilhelm von Jülich, Duke of Jülich, Prince of the Empire

[Prætor]

To His Grace, Ruprecht I, Count Elector of Rhein Pfalz, Elder line of the House of Wittelsbach;

While I thank you for your offer and am happy to accept the assistance of Pfalz, I see no evidence that the King of Aragon and his descendants have been excommunicated.

His Holiness, Clement VII stated that Aragon has lost all rights to the crown of Majorca. That is as far as His Holiness has gone, which is short of excommunication.

Until the King of Aragon and his heirs are actually excommunicated, the line of succession will not be altered in your favor.

Let it be known, however, that should such excommunication happen, your request will be granted and the Aragonese line will be removed from succession.



By her own hand,

Maria I d'Aragon
By the grace of God, Queen of Sicily

[HJ Tulp]

A carriage escorted by 10 armed riders arrives at Heidelberg. A older man goes out of the carriage and approaches the guards.

"Send for your commanders! I am Count Max von Bayreuth, send by his Grace Duke Albrecht to confer with his family here in the Pfaltz. Hurry up, my time is costly."

[Txini]

Count Ruprecht was announced of the arrival of the Count of Bayreuth, representing his Bavarian Family to the Court, and he expected him to come with good news.

Tell me good Count, what's the matter that makes you come from Bayern to our little Electorate? Had my cousins read my letter and considered to work with us?.
Also I think there are some issues to negotiate that could be interesting to negotiate to get better relation between all Wittelsbach Sovereigns and their lands.

[HJ Tulp]

"Milord, firstly I would like to express my sorrow after hearing the news of the death of your beloved wife. However onto matters of state. I've only come hear to represent Duke Albrecht of Bavaria-Straubing. I do not know of the other Dukes, relations have been a bit.....strained lately after recent quarrels on the titel of Duke of Bavaria and such. However if they deem the matter important enough I think they will let you hear about it. His Grace and myself deemed it important atleast. Yes there are indeed alot of matters to discuss between the two branches. It is our opinion that both branches should support eachother as much as possible so that the influence of the House von Wittelsbach is maximal. Both branches should help eachother reach there goals don't you think milord?"

[Txini]

That's exactly what I have been thinking of, we are part of one of the most important dinasties of the Empire, if not the most Important after the Actual Imperial Dinasty, and as so we should try that all our members have good relations in all theatres, Comerce, Military, Political Interests and so on.

Heir Ruprecht was also in the Room and wanted to add a pair of things:

Also we should take into account for this other branches of the family by female link, like for example the House of Jülich that is linked as much to the Bavarian Wittelsbach Branch as it is linked to the Pfalzian Branch. Also we would like to hear the opinion on the Sicilian issue as it will endanger our childs claims and succesion order in that throne and is something that should worry to all of us.

[HJ Tulp]

"Hmmm, as far as I remember the House of Julich is bound because the wife of one of the Dukes is a Wittelsbach isn't it? While the Bavarian and Pfalzian branch both descent from the same family isn't it? Anyway, I was allready planning on visiting my Lieges holdings in the Lowlands as word of floodings have reached us and we finally have to subdue the Frisians who have resisted our rightfull rule for centuries. I will also visit the Julichian Duchies probably to solve some issues like the ownership of our holdings. Our opinion on Sicily at this point is that we support your rightfull claim and that we are ready to do anything to support your rightful claim. We musn't let them think they can walk over us."

[Txini]

Truly the Duke of Gelre is actually married to your Lord, our Cousin Albrecht's daughter and the Duke of Berg to my daughter Anna, so their childs will be all members by female line of our family, and would be important to have them seated in their rightfull thrones and owning land, in their rights as members of the Greatest German Dinasty that is no more nor less than ours, the Wittelsbachs

[HJ Tulp]

"But offcourse, together we are strong. Let us not fight for petty titles or lands but work together. What is the position of the Pfaltz on the Schzism in the Church? It is our opinion that we must let the Church settle it's own business. We are all christians and that is important is it? We must see with which side we can do business we think. Furthermore, both sides claim the other side is the devil, who should we believe?"

[Txini]

Our position is that of neutrality, if actually the Men of God had not been able to be sure which one of both is the truly elected by our Saviour, we are less indicated to do so, also we think one day God will end this confussion and we all will have a Pope recognized by everyone, but until that time reaches we shall particullary support the one our heart tell us is the correct one but statally be neutral to both

[HJ Tulp]

"Offcourse milords, howeever even neutrality puts us in a peculair situation. What to do for example if the Bishop of Utrecht dies or the Archbishop of Salzburg? What if both papacies appoint a new bishop?"

[Txini]

Well, I can only say that matter is something the Diet shall address, and most possibly will be doing actually, so we'll have to wait for informs from Praha on what's the solution taken, but we shall accept what it comes from it, and I'm sure Pfalz Delegates will be interested in the matter

[HJ Tulp]

"Hmmm indeed. I wonder, will the Wittelsbach claimant to the Sicilian Crown actually make a appereance on the island? It seems that the Sicilian claimant is on the island as well as the usurpur from Meissen. Wouldn't it be wise for our man to be there as well? Offcourse accompanied by a suitable escort. We have several advanturers in Bavaria that would like to be part of it...."